Florida Institute of Technology
High Tech with a Human Touch
School of Psychology
Industrial and Organizational Psychology Program
Research Team: Motivation
Introduction
The motivation and personality team focuses primarily on two areas: self-regulation and personality measurement. In the area of self-regulation, our recent and current projects have examined self-regulatory (or self-control) processes that are involved in gaining control over one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. These processes are important to a wide range of behaviors, including those related to job performance, educational achievement, and health-related outcomes. However, several fundamental questions about the conditions responsible for self-control success versus failure remain unanswered. We are exploring some of these questions, focusing on self-control over time to determine those factors that lead to improved self-regulatory functioning over time and those that lead to deterioration in self-control.
In the area of personality measurement, our ongoing work has examined various methods of improving the measurement of personality in personnel selection contexts. Although personality assessments are often used in hiring decisions, scores on these measures demonstrate only modest relationships with performance on the job, suggesting there is room for improvement. We are examining issues such as item characteristics, response formats, and frame of reference to uncover areas for improvement.
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Patrick Converse
Team Philosophy
The overarching goal of the motivation and personality team is to conduct theory-based research with implications for employees and organizations. This is accomplished in a collaborative atmosphere in which team members work together through all stages of the research process.