Suchergebnisse

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.

Research on stress at work often involves the analysis of urinary adrenaline and noradrenaline. It is usually assumed that samples have to be cooled quickly and stored at refrigerator temperature before freezing. This is often difficult to achieve in field studies. This experimental study therefore tests the robustness of results when samples are not cooled immediately. Samples of 9 men and women, collected at 3 points in time, were immediately frozen, kept for a variable delay in a warm room, or stored in a refrigerator before freezing. Two indices were calculated: (a) the ratio of hormones to liquid volume, period of excretion, and body weight; and (b) the ratio of hormones to urinary creatinine. The reliability of high performance liquid chromatography analysis was satisfactory, as was the comparability of the 2 indices. Unfavorable storage up to 24 hr did not cause bacteria-driven decreases of catecholamines, regardless of storage temperature or sampling time. Results suggest high stability for at least 24 hr without cooling, provided the samples are immediately acidified. Cooling may therefore be handled less restrictively than has been assumed. The application of this research is to facilitate research in settings where samples are collected at different places, such as participants' homes or different workplaces.