181 research outputs found
The role of safety training and safety leadership in determining safety organisational citizenship behaviours
No full textSafety in the workplace is an important topic that needs to be addressed in order to create safer and healthier workplaces. Currently there has been an increase of papers investigating safety employing organisational psychology models, such as the Job Demands-Resource model, which has been used by many Occupational Health and Safety/Workplace Health & Safety regulators and government agencies around the world (Bakker and Demerouti, 2017). Using this model and specifically, the motivational hypothesis, it has been hypothesized that job resources such as safety training in the workplace and safety leadership styles of the supervisor could be related to work engagement of the workers and consequently safety organisational citizenship behaviours (SOCBs). Furthermore, in order to fill in the gap in literature on the outcomes of different types of safety leadership styles, this study aims to analyse potential differential effects of safety transformational leadership style and passive leadership style in determining safety outcomes such as SOCBs. In order to test these hypotheses, a study has been conducted on a site of a chemical multinational corporation in the northern part of Italy. The participants of the cross-sectional study were 60 workers, of which 69.6% were less than 50 years old. Almost half of them (53.3%) had the role of safety supervisor or safety manager. Furthermore, 40% belonged to safety emergency teams. Results of the study showed that work engagement fully mediated the relationship between safety training, safety transformational leadership and safety passive leadership and SOCBs. In other words, findings showed that safety training and transformational leadership were related to higher levels of work engagement, which in turn was related to higher levels of SOCBs. On the other hand, we found that passive safety leadership style was related to lower levels of work engagement and consequently lower levels of SOCBs. This study enhances the knowledge concerning the role played by safety training and safety leadership styles in order to determine SOCBs, which in turn could be related to lower levels of injuries and accidents in the workplace and higher levels of health and safety in companies
The darker the night, the brighter the stars: consequences of nocturnal brightness on amphibian reproduction
No full textThe effects of the moon on organisms have been documented in several animal groups. However, few field studies have considered the real amount of light intensity produced by the interaction of the moon and cloudiness as determinant of nocturnal activity patterns. Many nocturnal animals may present an endogenous cycle with lunar periodicity but others are believed to respond directly to changing moonlight by synchronizing foraging and reproductive behaviours as well as predatory and anti-predatory strategies. In this study, we investigated whether and how natural environmental brightness affects the oviposition and nocturnal activity of Hyla intermedia. This is one of the few field studies, and the first attempt on amphibians, that tests the effect of measured environmental brightness on the reproductive behaviour of animals. Overall, the nocturnal activity and oviposition strategy of tree frogs appears to be not intrinsically related to the synodic lunar cycle; rather, the moon acts indirectly as the primary source of environmental light by determining an abrupt drop in tree frog activity when light increases beyond a threshold. Tree frogs showed a shift in microhabitat use by occupying concealed habitats in very low light condition, and open habitats when moonlight was enough to allow interindividual visual recognition. In this way, males likely counterbalance the risk of being conspicuous to predators by the increased chances to be detected and localized by females through both acoustic and visual stimuli. As for oviposition, tree frogs showed a laying-egg activity conditioned by the environmental brightness, with a clear preference towards dark nights as resulting by the interactive effect of weather condition and moon phases. We speculate that the evolution of behaviours involving a trade-off between activity and safety could be behind the “moonlight phobia” showed by the studied tree fro
Transfer of training process. When proactive personality matters? A three-wave investigation of proactive personality as a trigger of the transfer of training process
No full textThis study aims to investigate in a longitudinal way the role of proactive personality in enhancing transfer of training. It considers the entire transfer process, which comprises trainee characteristics (e.g. proactive personality, motivation to learn and motivation to transfer) and work environment characteristics (e.g. environment facilitation) using the Baldwin and Ford model of transfer process and subsequent developments. The sample was composed of 566 persons who completed three questionnaires: at the beginning of the training intervention (T1), at the end of the training (T2) and after having completed the tasks related to the training programme (T3). In order to investigate our proposed model, a moderated serial mediation analysis was performed. Results showed that proactive personality was related to motivation to learn (T1) which increased motivation to transfer (T2) which, in turn, in combination with environment facilitation (T3), influenced transfer of training (T3). Furthermore, we found no direct effect between proactive personality and transfer of training. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has considered proactive personality as a trigger of the process of training transfer
Sustainable Employability in the Mid and Late Career: An Integrative Review
No full textIn the last decade, interest in investigating the sustainable employability (SE) of older workers has gained ground, generating a significant number of theoretical and empirical contributions. However, the construct of SE lacks a definition accepted by the scientific community and unified measurement criteria, which has led to results that, so far, do not allow us to draw solid conclusions on its relevance. The aim of this integrative review is twofold. Firstly, we review the theoretical formulations and definitions proposed, as well as the main empirical results of the studies and interventions on SE. Our review includes 31 studies (26 empirical and five theoretical; total sample size N = 33,368). Secondly, proposals and suggestions are offered aimed at integrating the previous results and advancing in the definition, operationalization, and measurement of SE, with the ultimate goal of increasing its value for future research in the mid-and late-career domain
How to measure safety training effectiveness? Towards a more reliable model to overcome evaluation issues in safety training
No full textRecently, safety training evaluation has received increasing attention. This is due both to the new Italian
government guidelines and laws, and to the fact that a growing number of companies have started to
perceive safety training as an investment. Many models have been published in the scientific literature on
how to evaluate training in general, but less attention has been paid specifically to safety interventions and
safety training. The aim of this paper is to develop a new model, which could help organizations in
evaluating the effectiveness of training activities using both qualitative and quantitative data. The model is
composed of different tools and it is based on the mixed methods approach, which combines quantitative
and qualitative measures to provide a better understanding of research problems. Using this approach and
collecting a large amount of data, it could become possible to create a national public database, which
could be used to on a large scale to monitor the effectiveness of training activities and improve them
Workplace Phobic Anxiety as a Mental Health Phenomenon in the Job Demands-Resources Model
No full textPurpose. Anxiety-related problems at work are a serious problem in the occupational context, as they come along with sick leave and problems in work participation. The aim of this study is to analyse workplace phobic anxiety in nonclinical context using the Job Demands-Resources model. Methods. The study involved a sample of 739 workers from a retail company, mostly with permanent contracts. Structural equation modelling analyses were performed using AMOS software. Results. Both the health impairment and motivational variables in the JD-R model were significantly related to workplace phobic anxiety and subsequently to absenteeism, specifically, exhaustion mediated between perceived job demands and workplace phobic anxiety and work engagement mediated between perceived job resources and workplace phobic anxiety. Moreover, workplace phobic anxiety was significantly positively related to absenteeism. Conclusions. Results suggest that workplace phobic anxiety is a specific concept and an important issue in organizations for both workers’ health and the organizational costs linked to absenteeism. Supervisors and occupational physicians should be aware of workplace phobic anxiety, especially when workers are on sick leave often or for long periods.</jats:p
Application to practice during practicum as a key player in determining the development of self-efficacy among pre-service teachers
No full textThis article explores the role played by application to practice of contents learned during pre-service teachers’ education courses in developing self-efficacy among pre-service teachers (PTs). A total of 129 PTs participated voluntarily in the study, filling in three questionnaires composed of both quantitative and qualitative measuring tools. Data were collected in three periods: at the beginning of the course, at the end of the practicum and at the end of the course. Qualitative data were also collected at the end of the practicum. Results showed that the self-efficacy of PTs increased during the education course. Furthermore, application of the training course contents during the practicum had a positive influence on enhancing self-efficacy. Findings of this study highlighted the role played by application to practice in enhancing perceived self-efficacy, which could lead to better job performance of future teachers
[10] OpenUP: opening up new channels for scholarly review, dissemination, and assessment
No full textAbstract: The growing dissatisfaction with the traditional scholarly communication process and publishing practices has resulted in the proliferation of alternative review, publishing and bibliometric methods. Considering the diversity of platforms and channels by which these alternative dissemination/review/evaluation tools are communicated, there is an urgency to conceptualize the scholarly discourse and gather best practices which can further guide developments in this field.
The EU-funded project OpenUP addresses key aspects and challenges of the currently transforming science landscape and aspires to come up with a cohesive framework for the review-disseminate-assess phases of the research life cycle that is fit to support and promote Open Science. The primary objectives of the project are (1) to identify ground-breaking mechanisms, processes and tools for peer-review for all types of research results (e.g., publications, data, software), (2) explore innovative dissemination mechanisms with an outreach aim towards businesses and industry, education, and society as a whole, and (3) analyze a set of novel indicators that assess the impact of research results and correlate them to channels of dissemination. The project employs a user-centered, evidence-based approach, engaging all stakeholders (researchers, publishers, libraries, funders, institutions, industry, public) in an open dialogue through a series of workshops, conferences and training, while validating all interim results in a set of seven pilots.
The main objective of the OpenUP presentation at the LIBER Conference 2017 is to present the results of the project on the triptych alternative peer review, altmetrics and innovative dissemination from the first project year, and putting all these in parallel on the broader canvas of Open Science. We will present the first iteration of frameworks of alternative methods and tools currently in use by diverse research communities, as they were captured by the OpenUP case studies and an extensive survey of European researchers. These frameworks conceptualize ways researchers (1) communicate their scientific results at smaller, communal level or at a wider, global level, (2) evaluate each other’s work, and (3) employ altmetrics. The case studies are at the core of OpenUP’s activities, and our aspiration is not only to showcase new tools and services in the scholarly market, but also to identify the emerging methods, practices, and workflows. We will also present the outline of the seven pilot studies involving communities from four research disciplines (life sciences, social sciences, arts & humanities, energy) and their role in evaluating the first iteration of the framework. At the conference, we are seeking feedback from the LIBER community on the framework as well as the pilot studies and discuss how to best include and engage with the important stakeholder group of librarians.
Bio: Michela Vignoli is Scientist and Open Science expert at AIT Austrian Institute of Technology. Her focus of interest lays on knowledge management in the digital era and on how to foster the transition of the current science system to a more Open Science. In the H2020 project OpenUP she contributes to researching novel ways of scholarly communication beyond traditional research channels and alternative peer review methodologies. Earlier this year she was nominated member of the EU high-level advisory group Open Science Policy Platform. As board member of the YEAR Network (Young European Associated Researchers) Michela considerably contributed to consultation activities with the European Commission and to the organisation of YEAR events. At AIT she contributed, among other, to various digital preservation and data science research projects (e.g. SCAPE, BITCRIME, e-Infrastructures Austria, Europeana Sounds).</p
Employment uncertainty and fertility: a meta-analysis of European research findings
No full textThe impact of employment uncertainty on fertility represents a prominent topic in demographic research since ever. With the advent of the Great Recession, papers addressing this relation are now booming. Although uncertainty is usually deemed to be a negative condition, however, different fertility reactions are both advocated by sociological theories and supported by micro-level evidence, which is still fragmented and contradictory. In this article, we perform a meta-analysis (i.e., a quantitative literature review) of previous research findings for Europe in order to synthesize the existing literature and offer general conclusions about the (changing) size and direction of the impact of employment uncertainty on fertility across time and between countries
Sono presente qui e ora, e sto bene! - Il ruolo della mindfulness nel Job Demands - Resources Model
No full textThe aim of the present study was to investigate the role of mindfulness -«an awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgementally to the experience that unfolds moment by moment (Kabat-Zinn, 2003)» - on workers' wellbeing, seeing it as personal resource in the Job Demands-Resources model. It was hypothesized that mindfulness may buffer the impact of surface acting, seen as job demand, on emotional exhaustion. It was also hypothesized that mindfulness may act a negative and indirect effect on emotional exhaustion through the mediation of reduced surface acting and a positive and indirect effect on work engagement as well, enhancing the perception of support from colleagues and supervisors. The results of the study, carried out on a sample of 316 employees of an Italian supermarket chain, confirmed the hypotheses. Implications for future research are discussed. The results suggest the importance of developing mindfulness in organizations in order to promote workers' well-being, because it enables them to cope with, or reduce, job demands and to increase job resources, which in turn enhance motivation at work
- …
