Do Situational Variables Affect Adherence to Formal Organizational Policies?

Abstract

A number of researchers have examined how individual differences and situational variables contribute to counterproductive behaviors (Blasi, 1980; Malinkowski and Smith, 1985; Sackett, Burris, and Callahan, 1989), but little is known about the variables related to the reporting of these behaviors. This study used the scenario-based approach described by Motowidlo, Dunnette, and Carter (1990) to determine whether situational variables affect subjects' intended reporting of various organizational policy infractions. Approximately 400 cadets from the United States Air Force Academy completed an instrument made up of 12 scenarios which systematically varied (a) the emotional closeness of the infraction, (b) the severity of the infraction, and (c) the presence or absence of other witnesses to the infraction. The results indicated that all three situational factors played important roles in determining reporting intentions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 17, 1992
Accession Number
ADP006932

Entities

People

  • Callie Calhoun
  • Frederick W. Gibson
  • Gary Macomber
  • Gordon J. Curphy

Organizations

  • United States Air Force Academy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Adhesion
  • Air Force
  • Colorado
  • Demography
  • Instructors
  • Observers
  • Psychology
  • Questionnaires
  • Reliability
  • Simulations
  • Squadrons
  • Students
  • Training
  • United States
  • United States Air Force Academy
  • Universities

Readers

  • Organizational Psychology.