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A FIELD EXPERIMENT TESTING SUPERVISORY ROLE CLARIFICATION
Author(s) -
SCHAUBROECK JOHN,
GANSTER DANIEL C.,
SIME WESLEY E.,
DITMAN DAVID
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
personnel psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.076
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1744-6570
pISSN - 0031-5826
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-6570.1993.tb00865.x
Subject(s) - psychology , ambiguity , stressor , intervention (counseling) , role conflict , supervisor , control (management) , test (biology) , social psychology , applied psychology , service (business) , clinical psychology , management , psychiatry , linguistics , paleontology , economics , biology , economy , philosophy
An intervention designed to clarify individual roles was tested experimentally on the business service division of a major university. Following a pre‐test which identified role stress as a significant problem in the organization, top managers clarified their respective departmental roles in meeting organizational objectives. This was followed by a post‐test (Time 2) survey of workers’stressors and symptoms. Supervisors were then trained in the method of clarifying subordinate roles using a dyadic exchange process. Workers were randomly assigned to either participate in a thorough role clarification discussion with their supervisors or join a wait‐list control group. Based on a follow‐up (Time 3) questionnaire, the intervention appeared to reduce role ambiguity and supervisor dissatisfaction. There were no effects on other aspects of subjective strain, physical symptoms, or time lost due to illness. Role conflict decreased in both the experimental and control groups. We discuss the implications of these findings for systemic efforts to reduce employee stress.