Perceptions and Metaperceptions of Negative Evaluation: Group Composition and Meta-Accuracy in a Social Relations Model

This study examined whether socially stigmatized individuals (cigarette smokers) use unique person perception strategies during interaction with out-group individuals (nonsmokers), as well as implications for meta-accuracy. Undergraduate students (N = 104) were divided into groups of four, representing one of three compositions: all smokers, all nonsmokers, or two smokers with two nonsmokers. Participants interacted with each group member, evaluated each other, and guessed partners' evaluations of themselves (metaperceptions). Contrary to past findings, smokers' metaperceptions of out-group members were not consistent across targets. Instead, smokers' metaperceptions were influenced by the smoking status of interaction partners. Moreover, smokers interacting with nonsmokers were least accurate in their metaperceptions, compared to other dyad combinations. Connections between metaperception and meta-accuracy are discussed

Using Social Relations Analysis to Examine the Impact of Role Change on Interpersonal Perceptions in Virtual Teams

Virtual teams are susceptible to disruptions such as role changes. Due to inconsistent conclusions in the current literature, it is difficult to predict how role disruptions might affect interpersonal perceptions in those environments. We recommend using a social relations analysis to uncover interpersonal processes within virtual teams that might be hidden in the complex multilevel structure of teams. We demonstrate this technique using data from a study involving 40 virtual teams configured in a laboratory; half of the teams experienced a change in leader role during the collaboration. The analysis revealed significant perceiver (individual differences in rating tendencies) and relationship variance (differentiation among team members) in evaluations of team members. Teams experiencing role change showed more differentiation of partners in evaluations and accuracy in guessing how team members evaluated them, compared to teams without role changes. Implications for future research on interpersonal processes in virtual teams are discussed

Body Image and Expected Future Interaction

This study examined impression formation as a function of anticipated future social interaction among women with varying body image perceptions. Seventy-four women participated in a getto- know-you interview with a female confederate, and either did or did not anticipate additional interaction. When participants anticipated future interaction, more negative body image predicted less positive relationship expectations. However, when not expecting future interaction, negative body image predicted positive relationship expectations. This effect was partially mediated by an increased focus on the self and partner as a collective unit. Results suggest a qualification to previous research conclusions about negative interpersonal perceptions among stigmatized individuals

Relationships between task awareness, comprehension strategies, and literacy outcomes

Reading is typically guided by a task or goal (e.g., studying for a test, writing a paper). A reader’s task awareness arises from their mental representation of the task and plays an important role in guiding reading processes, ultimately influencing comprehension outcomes and task success. As such, a better understanding of how task awareness arises and how it affects comprehension is needed. The present study tested the Task Awareness Mediation Hypothesis. This hypothesis assumes that the strategies that support reading comprehension (e.g., paraphrasing, bridging, and elaborative strategies) also support a reader’s task awareness while engaged in a literacy task. Further, it assumes that the reader’s level of task awareness partially mediates the relationship between these comprehension strategies and a comprehension outcome. At two different time points in a semester, college students completed an assessment of their propensity to engage in comprehension strategies and a complex academic literacy task that provided a measure of comprehension outcomes and an assessment of task awareness. Indirect effects analyses provided evidence for the Task Awareness Mediation Hypothesis showing that the propensity to engage in paraphrasing and elaboration was positively predictive of task awareness, and that task awareness mediated the relationships between these comprehension strategies and performance on the complex academic literacy task. These results indicate that task awareness has complex relationships with comprehension strategies and performance on academic literacy tasks and warrants further consideration as a possible malleable factor to improve student success

Part-time workers’ responses to electronic performance monitoring

The present study examined whether the presence of electronic performance monitoring at work would yield lower perceptions of control, job satisfaction, and commitment among part-time employees. This group of employees has not been traditionally examined in electronic monitoring research. We also tested whether the presence of electronic performance monitoring indirectly decreases citizenship behaviours and increases turnover behaviours through perceived control, satisfaction, and commitment. The sample included 208 students who worked part-time (no more than 30 hours per week). The data were collected using a two-part survey which assessed job attitudes, perceived control, intentions and behaviours, as well as type of monitoring being used in the workplace. The presence of electronic performance monitoring had a significant negative relationship with perceived control and job attitudes. Electronic monitoring indirectly predicted more self-reported turnover behaviour through perceived control, job attitudes, and intentions. The results suggest that monitoring might be an important situational factor that negatively influences employee attitudes and behaviours. The findings suggest that lower working hours within the organisation do not necessarily inure these employees to the effects of monitoring compared to their full-time colleagues, particularly when the performance standards are similarly demanding