The Snowstorm Study

Behavioral scientists do many studies, including controlled experiments, which entail massive advanced planning. But some of the most interesting studies happen when something strange or unplanned happens, and the researcher capitalizes on serendipity. Consider a little study done in the late 1970’s by industrial psychologist Frank J. Smith, who had collected employee attitude data from about 3000 employees at Sears’ headquarters in Chicago. Smith found that employee attitudes towards their jobs and their supervisors weren’t especially useful predictors of which employees were absent from work UNTIL the day a crippling snowstorm hit. Employees had a good excuse to stay home, so they had considerable discretion over whether to make the tough trip in or not. That day, employees who were more satisfied with their supervision and other parts of their jobs were far more likely to make the trip in than those who were dissatisfied.  In particular, whether or not they were satisfied with their supervision was among the strongest predictors of attendance. Since then, other researchers have shown that when people feel mistreated and dissatisfied with their jobs, they are unwilling to expend “discretionary effort.”  It makes sense to me. When I am stuck working for, or with, assholes, I don’t go out of my way to help. But when I admire my bosses and peers, I’ll go to extreme lengths to help –- and it is clear that most people feel and act the same way.

PS: I couldn’t find a soft copy. You can't get one online at Stanford. If you want to track down the article, the complete citation is Smith, Frank J (1977) “Work attitudes as predictors of attendance on a specific day.” Journal of Applied Psychology, 62:16-19. 

Comments

[Mickey Davis]

I have the feeling that you might be difficult to work with at times. Why call people who you find difficult, assholes? Life is hell and most people who are assholes probably have good reasons to be so, even though they are impossible to work with and it makes our jobs much more difficult. Plus the conditions of work probably make more people into assholes than any other thing. By the way, I got a score of "3" on your asshole score, so I might have something to say here (and I think my answers were totally honest--I even purposely tried to give an asshole answer a few times just to even it up). But I must admit I have what is probably a dream job compared to most others and I have no need to be an asshole. But I do think most assholes are forced to be that way because of things out of control, perhaps mostly their lives.

[Ross Mayfield]

Indirectly reminds me of the old saying, "Excuses are like assholes, everyone has got one, and they all stink."