Ambulatory Assessment in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Fruitful Examples and Methodological Issues
Abstract
In this review, we demonstrate the contribution of ambulatory assessment (AA) research to I/O psychology by reference to four dynamic phenomena, the investigation of which we judge to benefit most from the application of AA techniques: (a) work strain and coping with work stressors, (b) the work/nonwork interface, (c) social interactions at the workplace, and (d) job attitudes and work-related emotions. As we see it, the greatest potential of these studies lies in the analysis of how interindividual differences modulate intraindividual processes. After demonstrating the value of the method, we outline and discuss ways of tackling a number of methodological issues raised in the studies reviewed: selective participation and attrition, altered reporting behavior and reactivity, noncompliance with study instructions, low acceptance, and development of reduced scales or single-item measures. Future studies can pave the way for the broad acceptance and utilization of AA methods by contributing to the resolution of these issues.
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