Practicing vs. Research Organizational Psychologists

Although the roles of practicing and research organizational psychologists vary as to what aspects of the organization they directly affect they are both in it for the long-term success and growth of the organization. The day to day organizational functions that include recommendations to management on personnel issues, hiring strategies and staff productivity are handled by the practicing organizational psychologist. In contrast, those aspects of the organization that pertain to future strategies and recommended procedures for future growth and staying competitive and relevant to their customers are tasks done by research organizational psychologists.

Expectations of Organizational Psychologists

As a manager of an organization that is directly involved in the day to day operations of the organization there are certain aspects of the staff chemistry, personnel policies and leadership effectiveness that it would be tough to measure while being directly involved. The goal of bringing in an organizational psychologist is to receive feedback on the personality differences within the staff and how best to utilize the differences for the overall success of the organization. The organizational psychologist can also interview staff and observe staff to measure the effectiveness and adherence to personnel policies. Most importantly, as a manager, the psychologist can give direct feedback to myself and other leadership staff on our effectiveness with dealing with and handling the personnel challenges we face.

While the benefits of an organizational psychologist are great the cost can also be high. To measure the need of an organizational psychologist strictly off of the financial feasibility is to miss the point of their worth. Organizational psychologists are not typically staff personnel but rather contract personnel that are brought in when needed. Because of the role of organizational psychologists to keep them on staff, while financially unfeasible, is also not a benefit to their functionality in the organization because if they are involved in the daily operations of the organization they will be at a disadvantage to analyze the organization in an unbiased manner.

"Don't Know" Responses in Research

When researchers encounter 'don't know' responses they need to have a system for handling them. A don't know response can be because of a couple different things. If a researcher responds don't know they may truly have no response or idea on how to answer the question. The other thing could be that they do not understand the question. Either scenario could have negative affects on the research results. If they subject truly doesn't know the answer then the best course of action is to not include the response in the results. If the subject does not understand the question then the question can be restated to be clearer. If the question is restated then it may be best to return to the question later in the survey rather than directly following the initial ask.

Another possibility with 'don't know' responses is that the subject may be unwilling or uncomfortable answering the question. This is where it is critical to explain the contents of the survey ahead of time and also to word the questions in such a way as to not make the subjects any more uncomfortable than necessary. Also, designing the questions as to illicit the appropriate response will include wording to avoid 'don't know' response.

To Church or not to Church

I have struggled for the past year and a half on the issue of attending church. It is not a question of whether it is important or not but rather the questions of where, why and what.

Where should I attend? My wife and I attended Vineyard churches from 1995 until 2006. During this time I came to a deeper understanding of the function and purpose of church. I attending school through the Vineyard and became a Pastor. All of this lead to us joining a church that was joining the Vineyard Association and we felt called to partner with them in the process. 2 years later we leave the church, amongst disagreements with the leadership, and it still was not a Vineyard (in name or function). This was in January of 08 and I have yet to go back to church. There have been several occurrences (that we'll save for another blog) that lead to me feeling rejected by the church as a whole. Where do I go now? The other Vineyards in the area are lead by men I have great respect for but there is no need for my services there and / or calling for me to go. I can't bring myself to go to a church of another denomination because of how rigid and programmatic they tend to be. Not sure what to do.

Why go to church? I don't believe in attending church just to be able to say you went. I don't believe in compromising my understanding and beliefs of what church should be so that I can feel comfortable attending. I can't attend somewhere that I could not see myself serving in some capacity. So why attend? I want to attend because I feel a calling to the vision, mission and ministry of the church. I want to feel like I could, if needed, step up and serve in the ministry of the church. I want to attend where I am proud to be part of the body and not hesitant about telling others of it. There are many good reasons to go to church but I want to be part of church, contribute to church and be a representative of the church. Why go to church when we are the church? I want to be part of a community that concerns itself more with being the church rather than going to church.

What is church supposed to be? A building, a program, a social club, a closed in group, a ministry of politics or a cultural status measurement. I look forward to the church that proclaims and lives out resisting all these things. The church needs to be relevant to the culture it serves in such ways that it doesn't define itself by the building or programs it runs. The church needs to resist temptation to close its doors to outsiders so that it keeps its members safe. The church is not a tool for developing good cultural images or a social club that doesn't produce fruit. The church needs to prohibit leadership or influence through political maneuvering that is of no benefit to the mission of the church.

I may have unrealistic expectations of what to expect out of church but I have seen what church should and could be and will accept nothing less any more. I will not compromise my understanding of church just to attend church. To church or not to church is not the question. The question, for churches, is "To be The Church or not be The Church?"

Environmental Factors in Interviews

Environmental factors can make or break an interview. When interviewees are made to feel welcome and comfortable they will be more likely to respond with honest and complete answer to questions. One of the main goals of an interview is to get the interviewee to talk over and above the context of the questions being asked. Asking simple open-ended questions will eliminate the ability for yes/no responses thus requiring the answers be more elaborate.

There is value in the setting of the room where the interview is taking place in that it needs to be free of distractions and interruptions. Within the setting of the room those conducting the interview must present themselves in a position of authority and respect. This can be done in such a way that it does not cause discomfort to the subject of the interview but still elicit a level of response that will indicate how the subject responds to and respects authority.

Overcoming the environmental factors can be done through the setting of a comfortable and welcoming yet respectful interview location. During the interview the asking of questions that elicit responses other than strictly yes or no will give the interviewer a better understanding of the subject.

Research Styles - Compare & Contrast

Exploratory research vs Formal study -

Exploratory research and formal study rely on each other to be effective. Exploratory research is designed to determine what actions need to be taken depending on what questions need to be asked. Once the question(s) have been asked a formal study then looks for an eventual solution to those questions. Exploratory research is a free form that changes for the circumstances whereas in a formal study there is a hypotheses to test that relies on a set structure.

Experimental vs Ex Post Facto research -

In experimental research the variables of the research are modified whereas in ex post facto the variables stay the same. The goal of experimental research is to determine how changing the variables affects the results of the research. Ex post facto research seeks to analyze the results of the study not how the individual variables affect the outcome.

Descriptive vs Casual -

Descriptive and casual studies seek to describe the situation by asking questions with the only difference being what questions are asked. In descriptive studies the questions are who, what, when, where and how much. The missing question of why is what is asked in the casual study. A descriptive study looks to determine the results of the set variables while the casual study looks at why the variables have the affect they do.