Discoveries on Work Conditions and Health
TITLE
Describe what psychologists have discovered about physical and psychological work conditions (the Hawthorne studies, bullying at work, open plan offices).
ESSAY
🌟Psychological Impact of Physical and Psychological Work Conditions🌟
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🌟Hawthorne studies (Wikstrom and Bendix, 2000)🌟
The Hawthorne studies, conducted in the 1920s, aimed to investigate the impact of changes in the working environment on productivity. Despite altering various factors such as lighting and work structures, productivity increased in both the experimental and control groups. This unexpected finding was attributed to the special privileges granted to participants as well as the improved relationships formed among workers and management. However, subsequent research has failed to replicate these results, possibly due to factors like varying income levels and differing levels of attention and motivation provided to employees.
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🌟Bullying at work (Einarsen, 1999)🌟
Research on workplace bullying highlights four stages 💥 aggressive behavior, bullying, stigmatization, and severe trauma. Various forms of bullying behaviors have been identified, including physical, verbal, social isolation, personal attacks (e.g., ridicule, gossip), and work💥related tactics like making tasks harder to perform. The psychological impact of workplace bullying can be severe and long💥lasting, affecting the mental health and well💥being of employees.
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🌟Open plan offices (Oldham and Brass, 1979)🌟
A study on open plan offices involved 123 employees at a newspaper in the Midwest, USA. Those in the experimental group experienced three waves of transitioning to an open plan office design, whereas others were part of control groups or experienced fewer waves of change. Job characteristics such as autonomy, skill variety, task identity, significance, and feedback were assessed, alongside factors like ease of interaction, conflict perception, and concentration. Results showed a decrease in internal motivation and satisfaction, difficulty in concentrating, and challenges in completing tasks after the transition to open plan offices. This highlights the potential negative impact of such workspace designs on employee well💥being and productivity.
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In conclusion, understanding the psychological and physical implications of work conditions like those observed in the Hawthorne studies, workplace bullying, and open plan offices is crucial for creating supportive and effective work environments. Employers and organizations can benefit from prioritizing employee well💥being and considering the impact of work conditions on both mental and physical health.
SUBJECT
PSYCHOLOGY
LEVEL
A level and AS level
NOTES
🌟Psychological and Physical Work Conditions in Organizations🌟
💥 🌟Physical: The Hawthorne Studies (Wikstrom and Bendix, 2000)🌟
The Hawthorne studies, conducted in the 1920s at the Hawthorne Plant in Chicago, aimed to assess the impact of environmental changes on productivity. While researchers made various adjustments to the working environment, such as lighting and work structures, they observed that productivity increased both in the group where changes were implemented and the control group with no changes. It was suggested that increased productivity may have been influenced by the special privileges granted to participants and the enhanced relationships formed among workers and management. Subsequent research has failed to replicate these findings, possibly due to factors like higher income and positive attention received by workers in the Hawthorne Plant.
💥 🌟Psychological: Bullying at Work (Einarsen, 1999)🌟
This review article summarizes past research on workplace bullying, Expalining four stages 💥 aggressive behavior, bullying, stigmatization, and severe trauma. Various types of bullying behaviors are recognized, including physical, verbal, social isolation, personal attacks (e.g., ridicule and gossip), and work💥related (e.g., making tasks harder).
💥 🌟Open Plan Offices (Oldham and Brass, 1979)🌟
A study involving employees of a Midwest USA newspaper, with 123 participants. 76 were in the experimental group subjected to three waves of open💥plan office design changes, 5 were in a control group with no design changes, and 26 were exposed to some waves. Questionnaire items were used to assess job characteristics, such as autonomy, skill variety, task identity, task significance, and task feedback. Participants were also asked about ease of interaction, perceptions of conflict, concentration levels, and more. Findings revealed decreased internal motivation and reduced satisfaction with work and colleagues after the move to the open plan office, with challenges in concentration and task completion.
Based on the response descriptors in Table A, marks should be allocated accordingly, with recognition for additional relevant responses.