An analog study of the impact of rule accuracy on rumor in organizational settings.

摘要

This study examined the effects of accurate and inaccurate rules on frequency and duration of rumor, latency, and response accuracy in a simulated workplace. An alternating treatment design was used. Participants were presented with a rule regarding the number of points they would earn for a correct response. This rule was either accurate or inaccurate. During one, two hour experimental session, conditions alternated randomly between accurate and inaccurate rules. Once participants completed the experimental session, they completed a questionnaire that evaluated the procedure and reported their self-generated rules. Results showed that when participants were presented with inaccurate rules, they engaged in more instances of rumor, which were of longer duration than when the rules were accurate. In addition, the exposure to alternation between accurate rules and inaccurate rules resulted in variability in productivity. Finally, eight of the ten participants self-generated a rule regarding how their points were assigned.