Date of Award
6-2009
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. John Austin
Second Advisor
Dr. Scott T. Gaynor
Third Advisor
Dr. Ron Van Houten
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Campus Only
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to develop and then use a meaningful taxonomy of work behaviors to measure how people were spending their time at work using an Experience Sampling Method (ESM) to sample these behaviors. By combining a meaningful taxonomy and ESM methods, a technological tool was developed by this study that four workers used to track how they were spending their time at work.
A Palm Pilot™ was used to signal and collect data resulting in a reliable sample of participant work behavior. One group of participants was given feedback after week 1 to see if exposure to feedback would cause changes in behavior. The feedback appeared to increase the behavior of time spent working at one's desk. Also, feedback appeared to change participants' self-recorded time spent, estimated time spent, and ideal time spent for some behaviors. Participants reported that receiving feedback on their work behaviors was the main benefit of participating in the study and they did not feel inconvenienced by the self-recording methods used in the study.
Recommended Citation
Rice, Anna A., "Using an Experience Sampling Method to Investigate How People Spend Their Time at Work" (2009). Masters Theses. 237.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/237