In anticipation of a future social interaction, socially anxious individuals (SAIs) may imagine themselves appearing stupid or foolish and predict and exaggerate the probability and costs of conveying these undesirable social images both on oneself (e.g., “I will feel stupid”) and on others impressions of oneself (e.g., “Others will think I’m stupid”). However, there is a paucity of research examining the latter bias; moreover, research regarding SAIs estimates of the probability and costs of conveying a positive impression (e.g., “I will feel smart”) has typically been neglected. Thus, the a novel questionnaire was created in order to develop a more comprehensive model of SAIs estimates of probability and costs. We expected that positive and negative, self- and other-related judgments will represent four distinct, latent constructs that will be related to trait social anxiety indirectly through fears of positive and negative evaluation per the evolutionary model of social anxiety. Structural equation modeling was used to test study hypotheses. The final sample included four hounded and seventy-four college students (307 males and 167 females). Results generally supported study hypotheses. After minor theoretically justified modifications, the hypothesized model provided good fit to the data, χ2(94) = 151.78, CFI = .99, TLI = .99, RMSEA = .04. All social appraisals (or judgments) with the exception of other-negative appraisals were indirectly related to social anxiety through fears of positive and negative evaluation. Contrary to expectations, other-positive appraisals were negatively related to fear of negative evaluation and other-negative appraisals were uncorrelated with fear of positive evaluation, providing partial incremental validity of the novel questionnaire used in this study. Results provide preliminary evidence that suggests future research should extend evaluation of SAIs anticipatory social appraisals beyond negative, self-related social impact. Implications, limitations, and future directions of the research are be discussed.

This study was an investigation into participant perceptions of principal appraisal in Australian Lutheran schools where a national, systematic appraisal process for principals, entitled Principal Appraisal for Development (PAD), has been in place since 2000. The study group for the investigation consisted of fifteen principals, ten chairpersons of school councils and two district directors, all of whom had been involved in the process. The literature review indicated that whilst there was substantive scholarly writing on the purpose and methods of principal appraisal, there was a lack of recorded research on the experience and longer term outcomes of appraisal. Accordingly, the focus of the study was an examination of participant perceptions of the experience and impact of appraisal. The study's theoretical underpinning was symbolic interactionism and it adopted a qualitative approach to answer the central research question: What are principal and governing council chairperson perceptions of the efficacy of principal appraisal processes in Australian Lutheran schools? Data for the study were gathered through focus group and individual qualitative interviews. In addition, documents associated with the appraisal process were obtained for analysis. The data were then analysed using grounded theory methods, leading to the generation of three theoretical propositions. The first proposition was that the efficacy of principal appraisal depended on the completion of an explicit process that followed six clearly defined and understood steps; the second: that five perceptions of the efficacy of the appraisal process could be identified amongst participants; and the third: that the role played by key players in a spirit of trust in the process and in one another facilitated perceptions of efficacy in the appraisal process. Furthermore, the context in which the process took place, the actual purpose of the process and the nature of responses by participants emerged as key factors in each proposition. In particular, these factors determined whether the appraisal process advanced through the six defined stages required to ensure meaningful, long-term development for the principal, which of the perceptions of efficacy of the process for development was held by participants, and the extent to which trust in one another and in the process was evident. From these propositions eight statements that describe the experience of study participants were identified. These comprised: their belief that a development purpose must have priority in appraisal for perceptions of efficacy of the process; credible messages needed to emerge from the appraisal process for perceptions of its efficacy; appraisal needed to be perceived as a complex process of change involving meaning-making; principal as agent and initiator in the appraisal process facilitated perceptions of efficacy; a supportive and improvement-oriented environment for professional development was associated with perceptions of efficacy of the process; professional development of the principal needed to be perceived as a complex process; trust in the process and in one another was necessary for perceptions of appraisal's efficacy; and appraisal was recognised as having outcomes that may distract from development. These findings have specific implications for the policy and practice of principal appraisal in Lutheran schools, especially as PAD is reviewed. The findings also have application to other appraisal settings and generated key questions to assist in developing, implementing and evaluating principal appraisal systems. The study also indicated that those involved in the appraisal process need to think through how appraisal, development and accountability are related. These concepts are important and legitimate, and are to be both separated and recognised in any employment context. The study found that appraisal that resulted in development was a complex process of change involving shifts to meaning and behaviour. Such a process needed to be supported through an environment of trust with an improvement focus. The study has indicated that appraisal for development needs to be informed more fully by an understanding of the professional development literature. In summary, the study has contributed to an understanding of the place of appraisal in the learning and development of school principals.

Performance appraisals - a study of the performance appraisals significance as a tool for development in the public sector. Anders Larsson and Åsalill Olsson Performance appraisals have been given a central role in leading businesses in the public sector and are seen as a tool to create development opportunities and achieve better results. This has resulted that performance appraisal in many organizations takes up capacity and time. This was the starting point of our interest to study whether the time spent on performance appraisals effectively pays for itself in the organization, in other words whether the effects expected actually are achieved. The paper examines first line managers` views on staff appraisal purposes and effects of a function within the Landstinget. The survey design, methodology and transaction are of qualitative and quantitative method with three different sources: literature review of previous research, interviews with first line managers in Landstinget Västmanland and the results from an employee satisfaction survey conducted on behalf of Landstinget Västmanland. The result shows that the majority of first line managers` views on the purpose of staff appraisal are that they have a focus on the individual worker and the work environment and not to any significant degree is their purpose linked to the work place goals or to improve the performance of the organization. Keywords: leadership, performance appraisals, leadership styles, leader behavior, leader.

Syftet med denna studie är att beskriva och analysera enhetschefers syn på sina medarbetares kompetensutveckling för att sedan kunna ställa detta i relation till hur det praktiska kompetensutvecklingsarbetet faktiskt går till. Detta gjordes genom en intervjustudie som inkluderade sju semistrukturerade intervjuer med enhetschefer inom en avdelning i Östergötlands Landsting.Studien redogör för såväl skillnader som likheter i uppfattningar dem emellan och även mellan vad som sägs, och vad som görs. Slutligen visar det sig att det inom ett antal frågor förekommer en diskrepans mellan vad som sägs, och vad som görs. Frågor som visade sig vara inkongruenta återfanns bland annat inom ledarskapsområdet, kartläggnings- och uppföljningsområdet samt personalpolicyområdet. Denna inkongruens problematiserades och härleddes sedan till möjliga orsaksfaktorer vilka i sin tur utgör potentiella förbättringsområden i en optimering av verksamhetens kompetensutvecklingsarbete.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of core self-evaluations (CSEs) and core external-evaluations (CEEs) on performance evaluations. It was hypothesized that people with higher levels of CSEs and CEEs would be more lenient in their performance ratings, when rating neutral performance. The second hypothesis of the study was that people with higher and lower CSEs would engage more in halo when rating neutral performance compared to people with average levels of CSEs. It was further hypothesized that CEEs would moderate the relationship between CSEs and performance ratings given. A total of 129 students from the Middle East Technical University participated in this study. They were given the core self- and external-evaluations scales, as well as two distractor scales (PANAS and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale). They were later assigned randomly to either the neutral or the good performance vignette conditions, and asked to rate the performance of a departmental secretary whose performance was described in the vignette using two different performance rating forms that included the relevant performance dimensions and behaviors of the secretary. The first one of these forms is the Behavior Observation Scale (BOS) and the second one is the Graphic Rating Scale (GRS). The results showed that CSEs did not have a significant effect on the performance evaluations given. When the mood of the participants was controlled, however, people who had higher CSEs gave lower performance ratings to neutral performance than people who had lower CSEs, with the GRS as the rating form. Thus, the first hypothesis was not supported and even an opposite effect emerged. The second hypothesis found no support, as the standard deviations of the performance ratings given by people with high, low or average CSEs did not differ significantly from each other for the neutral performance vignette condition, even when the mood of the participants was controlled. However, the standard deviations of the ratings given by participants with average CSEs were higher than that of the participants with low and high CSEs for the good performance vignette condition. Hypothesis three was not supported either, as CEEs were not found to moderate the relationship between CSEs and the performance ratings.

En stor del av befolkningen tillbringar den största delen av sin tid på arbetet. Detta gör arbetsplatsen till en viktig arena att arbeta med för att ökat välbefinnande bland fler människor. Delaktighet och inflytande är faktorer som har stor betydelse för individens välmående, som kan främjas genom ett bra ledarskap och en bra psykosocial arbetssituation. Ett idag vanligt försök till att skapa delaktighet och inflytande på arbetsplatsen är att använda sig av årliga medarbetarsamtal. Beroende på hur det väljer att användas kan det leda till ett viktigt lärande för såväl individ som organisation, men används instrumentet slarvigt riskerar samtalet att förlora sin mening för samtliga inblandade. Syftet med studien är att är att undersöka den psykosociala arbetssituationen för ingenjörer på ett bolag i södra Sverige, och vad medarbetarsamtalet fyller för funktion för medarbetarna. Kvalitativa intervjuer genomfördes med hjälp av en halvstrukturerad intervjuguide som låg till grund för samtalet. För att analysera materialet gjordes en innehållsanalys utifrån vilken innehållet tolkades, kategoriserades och tematiserades. Resultatet visade på en diskrepans mellan arbetsgivarens uttalade försök till att främja delaktighet och kompetensutveckling, genom bland annat utvecklingssamtalet, och medarbetarnas upplevelse av de förutsättningar som gavs i vardagen. Diskussionen tar upp en del viktiga problem och frågor som studien väcker. Konklusionen är att medarbetarsamtalet inte kan ersätta brister i kommunikationen under resten av arbetsåret. Medarbetarsamtalets funktion bör undersökas närmre och vägas mot andra, eventuellt bättre, alternativ. / A large part of the population spends most of their time at work. This makes the workplace a key arena to work on in order to create greater wellbeing among more people. Participation and influence are factors that are important for the individual's well-being. This can be promoted through good leadership and a good psychosocial work situation. One way for the employer to attempt to create involvement and influence among workers in the workplace is the use of annual performance reviews. If the reviews are carried out in a correct manner they can lead to important learning for both the individual and the organization, but if the reviews are performed carelessly they risk losing their meaning for all involved. The purpose of this study is to examine the psychosocial labor situation for engineers at a company in southern Sweden, and what purpose annual performance reviews fills for the employees. Qualitative interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide that was the basis for the interview. In order to analyze the material, a content analysis was made on the basis of which the contents were interpreted, categorized and thematised. The result shows a discrepancy between the employer's stated attempt to promote participation and skills development, and employees' perception of the conditions given in everyday life. The discussion addresses some important issues and questions that the study raises. It is concluded that the annual performance review can not replace the lack of communication during the rest of the working year. The use of annual performance reviews should be further explored and weighed against other, possibly better, option.

This is a descriptive study that poses the questions and discussion regarding use of personality tests in prediction of future job performance of the current undergraduate hospitality students. A gap exists between the perception of the skills and competencies of high performers and the perception of hospitality students (Berezina et al., 2011; Malan, Berezina & Cobanoglu, 2012). The purpose of this study is to investigate if personality tests will help in predicting the success of students in their preferred job setting as compared to current high performers (managers). The use of personality tests increased substantially after 1988, when the government banned the use of polygraphs (Employee Polygraph Protection Act, 1988 as cited in Stabile, 2002). Although there is no right or wrong answer to personality test questions, the answers would allow employers to have a better idea if there is a sufficient fit between the applicant and the position sought. To compare the personality types of successful hotel managers and hospitality students to determine if there is a need to customize the hospitality curriculum in order to produce graduates who will fit to the correct type of positions, a convenient sample was drawn from a hotel management company's managers and hospitality students of a university in the Southeast USA. The sample for this study was 175 Managers and 150 Students. With the 144/175 (82% response rate) manager and 76/150 (51% response rate) students the main findings show there is a significantly difference between managers and students. This indicates that current hospitality students and current managers have different perceptions about hospitality industry. Since current students will work on the industry in the future, the difference needs to be eliminated by both curricular and extra-curricular activities. There are also significant differences among managerial positions' (general manager, assistant general manager, and director of sales) LDP scores. This could indicate that it might not be a good fit to promote these individuals from one position to other within the company since each position differs from each other.

Syftet med examensarbetet är att undersöka hur värdering av marknadsvärden för fastigheter inom stadsomvandlingsområdet ska utföras enligt ersättningsbestämmelserna i expropriationslagen. Först utfördes en litteraturstudie som undersökte hur ersättning vid expropriation skulle bestämmas. Ersättningen skulle utgöra ett opåverkat marknadsvärde plus 25 procent samt övrig skada. Med opåverkat menas att de inte är påverkat av exproprationsändamålet. Om tillräckligt med genomförda köp fanns att tillgå var ortsprismetoden den mest lämpade metoden för värdering av småhusfastigheter. För att få en större inblick i fastighetsmarknaden i Kiruna och som underlag till senare utförd värdering genomfördes en fastighetsmarknadsanalys där transaktioner i Kiruna mellan 2001 och 2012 användes. Med hjälp av transaktionerna delades Kiruna tätort upp i tre områden med benämningarna, drabbade området på Norrmalm, odrabbade området på Norrmalm samt Övriga Kiruna. Dessa områden användes genomgående i hela arbetet. För varje område utfördes en analys för bostadsbeståndet samt analys av gjorda köp och prisutvecklingar. Någon avvikande prisutveckling för det drabbade området kunde inte påvisas, inte heller för det näraliggande området. För att undersöka om ortprismetoden var en lämplig metod utfördes värderingar av hypotetiska fastigheter som var vanliga inom det drabbade området. Värderingen följde ortsprismetodens huvudmoment med undantag av att jämförelseobjekten justerades med hänsyn till avståndet till Kiruna centrum. Studien visade att ortsprismetoden var användbar vid värdering av småhusfastigheter inom stadsomvandlingsområdet. Även om den utförda analysen inte påvisade någon påverkan inom det drabbade området på Norrmalm måste jämförelseobjekt väljas utanför det drabbade området på Norrmalm då området ändock sannolikt är påverkat. Hänsyn måste också tas till att Kirunas fastighetsmarknad är relativt begränsad och det kan vara svårt att hitta bra näraliggande jämförelseobjekt för vissa fastigheter. / The purpose of this study is to examine how the appraisal of the market values of real estates within an area effected by of city relocation shall be carried out according to the regulation in the Expropriation Act. First a literature study was performed to examine how compensation for expropriation would be determined. The compensation would be an unaffected market value plus 25 percent, and other loss. Unaffected means that it is not influenced by the purpose of the expropriation. If the number of sales available were sufficient, the comparison method was the most suitable method. To gain a greater insight into the real estate market in Kiruna and as a basis for price trends, a real estate market analysis in which transactions in Kiruna between 2001 and 2012 were used. By using the transacations data Kiruna was divided into three areas with designations, affected area of Norrmalm, unaffected area of Norrmalm and rest of Kiruna. These sites were used throughout the entire study. For each area, an analysis of the housing stock as well as analysis of completed sales and price trends. Any divergent price trends of the affected area was not proven, nor for the nearby area either. Appraisals of hypothetical properties were performed to examine whether the comparison method was an appropriate method. The appraisal followed main parts of the comparison method except that the comparison objects were adjusted according to the distance to the center of Kiruna. The study showed that the comparison method was useful in the valuation of single-family properties in the area of city relocation. Although the analysis did not detect any impact for the price trends of the affected area in Norrmalm, comparison objects must be selected outside the affected area in Norrmalm, because the area is most likely influenced nevertheless. Consideration must also be given to Kiruna's real estate market is relatively limited and it can be difficult to find good comparison objects.

Psychological resilience has been described as a multidimensional, context specific concept, and has been defined in numerous ways that attempt to encapsulate the process by which individuals positively adapt following stress or significant adversity. Research within competitive sport has highlighted several components that influence this process, which include; meta-cognitions and challenge appraisals, coping strategies, personal risk and protective factors, and sociocultural influences (Brown et al., 2015; Galli & Vealey, 2008; Fletcher & Sarkar, 2012; Sarkar & Fletcher, 2014a). Significantly, resilience is described as a dynamic process that is developed through exposure to challenge within the competitive environment (Galli & Vealey, 2008); however, little is known about the nature of psychological resilience at a junior level. The understanding of how resilience is conceptualised at this level is important as this knowledge can help to foster the appropriate protective and promotive factors required to thrive in a competitive junior environment, and best equip athletes for future periods of unrest. The aims of the current research program were to investigate the nature of psychological resilience within a junior sport context, and to explore appropriate measures or methodological approaches by which to achieve this. To achieve these, eight research objectives are presented. To address these objectives, five research investigations were proposed: Study 1. This study aimed to explore the psychometric qualities of the original 25-item CD-RISC (Connor & Davidson, 2003) amongst a sample of junior athletes. Three hundred and forty seven athletes (M age=15.42, SD=1.72) completed the original CD-RISC questionnaire. Participants represented a range of individual and team sports. Internal consistency and factor structure were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory factor analyses (EFA). CFAs did not support the original 5-factor or unitary factor structure of the 25-item CD-RISC, but did support a unidimensional shortened 10-item measure (Cambell-Sills & Stein, 2007). Subsequently, an EFA and CFA also supported a valid and reliable 2-factor sport specific version of the CD-RISC, which was favoured based on stronger conceptual and theoretical support. This study supports the contention that resilience is not consistent across all populations and context specific measures may be required e.g., sport specific. The emergent 2-factor measurement model suggests an underlying structure of resilience in sport that represents an individual's control through adversity and growth mindset. Study 2. The aim of this study was to explore the nature of resilience within junior sport, with a specific focus on sport type, gender and age differences, and the association between resilience and sensation seeking characteristics. Participants completed the modified version of the CD-RISC, which emerged in the previous study and the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS; Hoyle at al., 2002), which measures dispositional risk taking behaviours. The results suggested that male and team athletes have significantly higher resilience scores than their female and individual sport counterparts. In general, protective factors associated with resilience positively relate to sensation seeking characteristics. Specifically, feelings relating to ‘control through adversity' more broadly relate to tendencies leading to greater risk exposure. These findings may suggest that those with a greater perception of control take more calculated risks and set goals that are more challenging. This may offer the opportunity to increase personal mastery through developed interpersonal relations, emotional expression, problem solving skills and coping resources. Nevertheless, our understanding of resilience seems limited by the capacity of a psychometric questionnaire to encapsulate such a complex construct. Study 3. This study aimed to provide a review of the literature concerning resilience in athletes, with a specific focus on identifying the differing methodological approaches to examine the nature of the construct in sport. Fourteen research articles that attempted to directly measure psychological resilience with an athlete sample were identified using both quantitative (n=8) and qualitative (n=6) approaches. Quantitative research has increased conceptual understanding of resilience in sport, relating to its positive associations with similar constructs (e.g., mental toughness), and its moderation qualities. This approach permits statistical analyses to track development, however is unlikely to offer sufficient depth to understanding given the complexities surrounding both the construct of psychological resilience and the nature of an elite sporting environment. Qualitative studies have helped to develop theoretical understanding of psychological resilience amongst athletes through adopting phenomenological methodologies, however, the application of knowledge relies on user generalisability alone and does not offer an objective measure of the construct. The review proposes an exploration of novel methodological approaches that consider the positive elements of both qualitative and quantitative research, but does not consolidate their pitfalls. Study 4. The purpose of this study was to develop a novel tool to measure psychological resilience using a Q-method approach. Specifically, this study aimed to construct a Q-set, by identifying the subjective viewpoints of junior rugby league players, associated with how they would respond to stress or adversity and their perceptions of the resilience process. Twenty-nine junior rugby league players (aged 13-14) were recruited to take part in one of two focus groups designed to generate statements relating to responses to adversity. Thirty statements emerged following inductive thematic analysis, and were retained for the Q-set. There are commonalities between these statements and characteristics of theoretical models and previous research concerning psychological resilience in sport. Study 5. The purpose of this study was to use the Q-set developed in the previous study to explore the nature of psychological resilience in the context of junior Rugby League, using a novel Q-sort method. Sixty junior rugby league players (aged 13-14) completed a standard Q-sort protocol, ranking the previously developed 30-item Q-set using a fixed quasi normal distribution, with anchors of +5 (most like me) to -5 (least like me). PQ Method statistical analysis software was used to analyse the data. Principle component analysis with varimax rotation identified four distinct subgroups that explained 72% of the total variance. These groups were distinguished through patterns relating to: social support, emotional control, unpleasant emotions, personal resources, and cognitive strategies. Shared qualities across the four subgroups were also identified, and included low ratings for evasion strategies, and seeking support, whilst generally high ratings for perseverance. The results from this study showed that junior rugby league players display a range of psychological responses when experiencing adversity and four subgroups with both defining and shared characteristics emerged. This study provides preliminary evidence for the potential usefulness of a Q-method approach for understanding the process of resilience in junior sport. Q-methodology provides an alternative to previous research designs attempting to understand the nature of resilience, and offers an engaging activity to participants, encouraging analytical reflections of their experiences. In summary, the data collected within the current research program has presented an original contribution to knowledge concerning the nature of psychological resilience in junior sport. / The thesis has delivered the first study of its kind, by employing Q-methodology to understand psychological resilience, revealing previously untapped complexities associated with the construct. This approach offers future researchers and practitioners the depth of insight and level of objectivity associated with qualitative and quantitative measures respectively, and recommends this as a viable alternative to psychometric measures of resilience.

xiii, 173 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Prior research has tended to focus on rational (e.g., collective social action and cost-benefit factors) rather than emotional processes when predicting boycott intention. The current dissertation proposes that both processes contribute to a boycotting decision and that each is premised on a perceived moral violation. A model is offered in which boycott intention is conceptualized as a consumer coping response. Three studies provide support that moral emotions and cost-benefit factors independently contribute to overall consumer boycott intention. In Study 1, online survey responses from active boycotters (N = 121) indicated that participants felt other-condemning moral emotions more acutely in symbolic boycotts than in non-symbolic boycotts. In Study 2, the theoretical relationship between perceived moral violation, boycott intention, and boycott behavior was established in a simple experiment (N = 201). In Study 3, experimental results from a real world consumer panel (N = 709) indicated that the key to diffusing consumer boycott intention is counter-message tactics aimed at reducing overall perceived moral violation. Path analysis using the data from Study 2 and 3 provided additional insight into the structure of the proposed model. Other-condemning and self-conscious emotions, along with perceived boycott benefit (ability to make a difference and self-enhancement), contributed to boycott intentions whereas cost perceptions played a lesser role in predicting boycott intention. Comparisons between the hypothesized model and a set of alternatives supported the proposition that boycott intention may be conceptualized as a coping behavior. Finally, the results of a path analysis indicated that two individual difference variables were determinants of perceived moral violation: humanitarian- egalitarian orientation and negative attitude towards big businesses. / Committee in charge: Robert Madrigal, Chairperson, Marketing; Lynn Kahle, Member, Marketing; David Boush, Member, Marketing; Robert Mauro, Outside Member, Psychology