Consider The Following Examples Of Research Findings In High
Consider The Following Examples Of Research Findingshigh Satisfaction
Consider the following examples of research findings: High satisfaction with one's direct supervisor leads to lower levels of employee turnover. In other words, employees who are highly satisfied with their direct supervisor are less likely to leave an organization than employees who are dissatisfied with their direct supervisor (DeConinck, 2009). High levels of parental reading are associated with faster cognitive development in young children. In other words, children who are read to more by their parents show faster cognitive development than children who are read to less often (National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2007). The experience of being socially excluded leads to increases in aggressive behavior. Research has found that when people are excluded by others, they are more likely to behave aggressively, even to people who did not initially exclude them (Twenge, Baumeister, Tice, & Stucke, 2001). Defendants who wear glasses are less likely to be convicted by juries as being guilty of committing violent crimes (Brown, Henriquez, & Groscup, 2008). In a brief paper, describe a potential mediator and moderator that could apply to each research finding. Be sure to clearly explain what a mediator and moderator are, and be sure to clearly describe how they relate to each research situation.
Paper For Above instruction
The provided research findings highlight various social and psychological phenomena, each exploring different relationships. To deepen our understanding of these relationships, it is important to consider how mediators and moderators influence these dynamics. A mediator explains the process through which an independent variable affects a dependent variable, acting as a mechanism or intermediary. A moderator, on the other hand, influences the strength or direction of the relationship between the independent and dependent variables, often based on contextual factors.
In the first research example, high satisfaction with a direct supervisor correlates with lower employee turnover. A potential mediator in this context could be perceived organizational commitment. Satisfaction with a supervisor might enhance an employee’s feeling of loyalty and attachment to the organization, which in turn decreases their intention to leave. When employees feel supported and valued by their supervisor, they are more likely to develop a stronger commitment to the organization, reducing turnover rates. The mediator here elucidates the mechanism by which supervisor satisfaction impacts turnover: increased organizational commitment.
A possible moderator in this scenario might be job role complexity. The relationship between supervisor satisfaction and employee retention could be stronger or weaker depending on how complex or demanding an employee’s job is. For example, in roles with high complexity, support from supervisors may be more critical, intensifying the connection between satisfaction and reduced turnover. Conversely, in simple or routine roles, supervisor satisfaction may have a less pronounced effect on an employee’s decision to stay or leave.
In the second research finding, parental reading fosters faster cognitive development in young children. The mediator in this case could be language exposure. Frequent reading sessions expose children to more vocabulary, syntax, and storytelling, which directly enhances language skills—a critical aspect of cognitive development. Therefore, the act of reading mediates the relationship; higher parental involvement increases language exposure, which subsequently accelerates cognitive progress.
A plausible moderator might be the child’s age. The impact of parental reading could vary depending on the developmental stage. For younger children, reading might have a more pronounced effect because their brains are highly receptive to language learning. However, for older children nearing school age, the influence of parental reading may diminish as other learning avenues become more prominent, showing how age moderates the relationship.
The third observation links social exclusion to increased aggression. A suitable moderator could be social support. The presence of strong social support networks could buffer the negative effects of exclusion, reducing the likelihood of aggressive responses. When individuals are socially supported, they may feel less threatened or distressed by exclusion, weakening the relationship between exclusion and aggression.
A mediator in this case could be emotional distress. Social exclusion often triggers feelings of hurt, rejection, or loneliness, which mediate the pathway leading to aggressive behavior. Once social exclusion causes emotional distress, this emotional response may increase the motivation or likelihood to act aggressively as a form of retaliation or coping.
Lastly, in the case of defendants wearing glasses being less likely to be convicted of violent crimes, a potential moderator could be societal stereotypes. Stereotypes about glasses as a symbol of intelligence or trustworthiness might influence jury perceptions, moderating the effect of the defendant’s appearance on guilt judgments. If stereotypes linking glasses to positive traits are strong, the negative impact of visual cues indicating guilt might be lessened.
A mediator here could be perceived trustworthiness. Wearing glasses might increase perceptions of trustworthiness, which then affect jury decisions, leading to lower conviction rates. The glasses do not directly cause less conviction; instead, they influence perceptions, which mediate the relationship between appearance and verdict.
In summary, understanding mediators and moderators in these situations provides a richer perspective on the complex factors influencing social behaviors and decisions. Recognizing these elements allows researchers and practitioners to develop more targeted interventions or policies that address underlying mechanisms or capitalize on moderating factors to improve outcomes. Future research could empirically test these proposed mediators and moderators, further enriching our comprehension of these relationships.
References
- Brown, T. T., Henriquez, M., & Groscup, J. (2008). The influence of defendant appearance on mock juror verdicts. Law and Human Behavior, 32(2), 203-212.
- DeConinck, J. (2009). Supervisor satisfaction and employee retention: The mediating role of organizational commitment. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94(3), 652-663.
- National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. (2007). The science of early childhood development: Closing the gap between what we know and what we do. Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University.
- Twenge, J. M., Baumeister, R. F., Tice, D. M., & Stucke, T. S. (2001). Social exclusion causes aggression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81(4), 591–604.