Personal and Structural Influences on Performance in Dynamic Environments: An Investigation of Social Skill/Intelligence and Social Contingencies
Abstract
Research was conducted for clarifying linkages among individual differences in social skill/intelligence constructs, contextual differences in social contingencies (i.e., accountability mechanisms), and performance outcomes. Research suggests that social intelligence may offer relatively high validities for performance prediction, while accountability has consistently shown to be a determinant of behavior, interacting with personal and contextual characteristics. Furthermore, the social contingency nature of accountability (both formal and informal) provides a conceptual linkage with social intelligence, suggesting there should be interactions of these constructs on performance. A multi-study approach was used to develop a measure of social skill in organizations, to demonstrate convergent and discriminant validity for multiple measures of the social skill construct, and to advance understanding of how individuals differing in social skills respond to differing accountability perceptions in terms of performance. First, the psychometric properties of multiple measures of social skill/intelligence were analyzed relative to potentially related dispositional constructs. Specifically, measures of emotional intelligence, political skill, and Self-Monitoring was gathered from student subjects, along with personality constructs of Conscientiousness and Locus of Control to assess both convergent and discriminant validity of these measures in a performance context. Second, a laboratory experiment approach extended this survey approach into a performance context. Third, a field study was used to replicate and extend the relationships supported in the preceding studies in an organization, using standard and contextual performance measures. Finally, another field study extended these findings into an organizational context, examining the interaction of social skill and accountability on desirable organizational performance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 15, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA416400
Entities
People
- Dwight D. Frink
- Gerald R. Ferris
Organizations
- University of Mississippi