Chapter 1: Literature Review
1.11 Contributions of the Program of Research to Theory and Practice
This thesis aims to address a series of research questions presented in the preceding review of the PsyCap literature and which are summarized in Figure 1-5. As such, the following studies will contribute to improved understanding of the PsyCap construct; particularly in regards to its theoretical and psychometric
foundations and its potential as a meaningful multilevel construct. More specifically, it is anticipated that investigation of each of the research questions will provide multiple unique and meaningful contributions to theory and practice. These are outlined below:
Research Question 1: What are the theoretical and psychometric foundations of the PsyCap construct and its primary measure the PsyCap Questionnaire (PCQ) and are there aspects that warrant further research and development?
Investigation of the theoretical and psychometric foundations of the PsyCap construct and its primary measure provides opportunity to improve and refine the conceptualization and measurement of PsyCap. From a research perspective, this will help to further establish PsyCap as a meaningful OB construct as it will serve to differentiate PsyCap both conceptually and psychometrically from other seemingly similar OB constructs. Improvements in PsyCap measurement will also provide managers and HRD specialists with more accurate assessment of employee PsyCap. This in turn, would allow for more precise identification of the need for and utility of PsyCap interventions for staff.
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Research Question 2: Does a four-factor model of PsyCap (where hope, efficacy, resilience and optimism are considered separately) offer greater utility in
explaining variance in outcome variables compared to the conventional second- order model of PsyCap?
Research Question 3: Do the individual PsyCap factors (hope, efficacy, resilience and optimism) differentially explain variance in outcomes variables and thereby offer insight into the mechanisms of effect of PsyCap?
Examination of the utility of a four-factor model of PsyCap in comparison to the conventional second-order model may provide for improvements in the criterion validity of the construct. Furthermore, by considering the individual factors of
PsyCap separately (using a four-factor model), it may be possible to determine which PsyCap factors are most important in relation to particular outcome variables. This insight may allow organizations and managers to identify the individual PsyCap capacities which are most relevant to their workplace based on those outcomes most pertinent to the organization’s functioning. Consequently, more tailored interventions aimed at enhancing those particular PsyCap capacities could be developed and implemented. By developing a greater understanding of the mechanisms of effect of PsyCap, it may also become possible to identify potential organizational factors (e.g. performance appraisal procedures; Rego et al., 2010) which boost (or inhibit) aspects of employee PsyCap and thus, employee functioning.
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Research Question 4: What are the current theoretical frameworks to support the extension of PsyCap to the team-level and are there areas for further development in relation to the conceptualization, operationalization and measurement of PsyCap at the team-level?
The theoretical analysis of collective PsyCap presented in Chapter 5 will provide a research agenda aimed towards improving the alignment between theory, conceptualization and operationalization of PsyCap at higher-levels of analysis. Moreover, this research will extend PsyCap scholarship by identifying unique antecedents and emergence processes relating to collective PsyCap; thereby commencing the development of a conceptual nomological network of collective PsyCap.
These theoretical developments hold important implications for practice. Validation of the proposed nomological network of collective PsyCap will enhance the utility of PsyCap at higher-levels of analysis, particularly in relation to team selection and composition and team development. This could subsequently help to inform organizational practices in regards to developing and maximizing the potential of their work teams.
Research Question 5: How does team-level PsyCap relate to outcomes at both the team-level (e.g. team performance, satisfaction and conflict) and the individual- level (job satisfaction and turnover intentions)?
This thesis will provide the first examination of the potential cross-level effects of team-level PsyCap on employee functioning. Thus, the study presented in Chapter 6 will extend current collective PsyCap scholarship by investigating how team-level PsyCap relates to outcomes at the individual-level (e.g. job satisfaction and turnover intentions), as well as at the team-level (e.g. team performance,
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satisfaction and conflict). It is anticipated that membership of a positively-oriented team will not only enhance aspects of team performance and functioning, but also individual employee functioning. As such, findings from this research could inform management practices in regards to staff development, by emphasizing the
importance and benefits of fostering team-level positivity in organizations.
Research Question 6: Which compositional model of team-level PsyCap (e.g. direct-consensus composition or referent-shift composition) is most viable in terms of predicting outcomes at the individual- and team-level?
Investigation of the two dominant composition models of collective PsyCap (direct-consensus composition and referent-shift composition) will provide greater clarity regarding the operationalization and measurement of the construct at the team-level. Thus, the findings from the study presented in Chapter 6 will offer important insights for collective PsyCap scholarship, as previous studies have been divergent in the operational approach used to aggregate PsyCap to the team-level. Findings from this study will also hold implications for practice as they will inform more accurate measurement of team-level PsyCap, thus allowing for greater
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Figure 1-5. The specific research questions of this thesis and the related chapters and research articles.
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