OB 354 Midterm 1 Exam
What is organizational behavior (OB)
- A branch of science
- More specifically a field of study that seeks to understand and explain the behaviors of
individuals and groups in organizations using the steps of science.
What are the four steps of science?
1. Observation
2. Explanation (theory)
3. Prediction (or association)
4. Control
Define observation in the context of OB:
- Job performance, organizational commitment, job motivation, and employee well-being
Define explanation in the context of OB:
- Employees are MORE motivated in their jobs when they are required to use a variety
of skills rather than repetitive tasks
Define prediction in the context of OB:
- We can measure job motivation based on the variety of skills required. They are
positively correlated
Define control in the context of OB:
- We can "control" job motivation across employees by increasing skill variety
What is a theory?
- A well-tested explanation for a broad set of observations
What helps us test our theories for verification?
- Correlation coefficients
What is correlation?
- The relationship between two variables (-1 < r < 1)
What would be the correlation coefficient for PERFECT positive correlation?
r = 1
What would be the correlation coefficient for moderately positive correlation?
r = 0.5