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Identifying Specific Factors Underlying Attitudes Toward Change: Using Multiple Methods to Compare Expectancy‐Value Theory to Reasons Theory 1
Author(s) -
Westaby James D.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2002.tb00257.x
Subject(s) - expectancy theory , psychology , construct (python library) , value (mathematics) , social psychology , psychological intervention , statistics , mathematics , computer science , psychiatry , programming language
This study used multiple methods to compare expectancy‐value theory (EVT) to reasons theory for identifying specific factors underlying attitudes toward a planned organizational change. Reasons theory utilizes an accessible reason construct within a decision‐making framework. Study 1 used the correlational method to statistically identify the strength of specific factors underlying attitudes according to each theory. The value and accessible reason factors demonstrated the strongest associations with attitudes toward change. The strength of specific factors was then manipulated experimentally according to each construct to examine the impact on potential change in Study 2. The interventions developed from expectancy and accessible reason factors were evaluated most positively by individuals in the target organization, with accessible reasons having the strongest effect. Unexpectedly, interventions based on the value and expectancy value factors had less efficacy in Study 2. Implications for applied research are discussed.