Exploring the Moderating Role of Personality in the Relationship between Stressors and Counterproductive Work Behaviors: A Study of Hotel Employees

Assignment Instructions:

read the following article and answer the questions:
1. Draw a model that represents the relationships described in the title of the article (refer to the Research Methods/Statistics lecture for some examples).
2. Discuss the variables used in the study. What are they and how are they measured? You should have 3 moderator variables (personality), 3 predictor variables (stressors), and 2 outcome variables (CWBs). (Hint: there’s a table in the paper that lists them!)
3. Did the authors find main effects? In other words, are there significant correlations between stressors and CWBs?
4. Did the authors find moderator effects? In other words, did conscientiousness, agreeableness, or negative affectivity interact with stressors in predicting CWBs?
5. What does this research mean in a practical sense? In other words, how can organizations or I-O psychologists use the results of this research to improve the effectiveness of organizations or the well-being of employees? (Hint: the authors have a few suggestions in a paragraph with the heading “Practical Implications”)
6. How can you relate this to your own work or life experiences? Think about what you know of yourself as a person (or take a short personality test hereLinks to an external site.) and how you react to stressors at your job or in your life. Do you have any examples of instances where you were stressed and wanted to engage in negative behaviors as a result? How might your personality have factored into whether or not you engaged in those behaviors?

How To Work On This Assignment(Example Draft/Essay)

1. The model in the article represents the relationships between personality, stressors, and counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs). Personality acts as a moderator variable that influences the relationship between stressors and CWBs. Stressors act as predictor variables that influence the likelihood of engaging in CWBs. The model shows that different personality traits may have different effects on the relationship between stressors and CWBs.
2. The study uses three moderator variables, including conscientiousness, agreeableness, and negative affectivity. The three predictor variables used in the study are role ambiguity, role conflict, and job insecurity. The two outcome variables are deviance and withdrawal. The variables were measured using self-report questionnaires, with the exception of withdrawal, which was measured using supervisor ratings.
3. Yes, the authors found main effects between stressors and CWBs. The study found that role ambiguity, role conflict, and job insecurity were positively associated with both deviance and withdrawal.
4. Yes, the authors found moderator effects between personality traits and stressors in predicting CWBs. Specifically, conscientiousness was found to moderate the relationship between role ambiguity and deviance, and between job insecurity and withdrawal. Agreeableness was found to moderate the relationship between role conflict and withdrawal. Negative affectivity did not moderate any of the relationships.
5. The research has practical implications for organizations and I-O psychologists. The findings suggest that organizations should consider the impact of stressors on employee behavior, and take measures to reduce stressors in the workplace. Organizations can also use personality assessments to identify individuals who may be more susceptible to engaging in CWBs in response to stressors. Additionally, training programs can be developed to help employees better cope with stressors and avoid engaging in CWBs.
6. Individuals can relate to this study by reflecting on their own personality traits and how they react to stressors in their work or personal life. For example, if someone is highly conscientious, they may be more likely to engage in deviant behavior if they perceive their role to be ambiguous. If someone is highly agreeable, they may be more likely to withdraw from work if they experience role conflict. Understanding one’s own personality traits and how they influence behavior can help individuals better cope with stressors and avoid engaging in negative behaviors.