Alpha, beta, and gamma change in evaluation research: a structural equation approach
Article Abstract:
Effects of organizational interventions are often studied within a nonequivalent control group design, with the pretest and posttest variables being self-report measures. Changes in these measures from pretest to posttest have multiple interpretations, depending on the processes believed to be responsible for the change. Golembiewski, Billingsley, and Yeager (1976) classified observed change in three categories as alpha, beta, or gamma change. Alpha change corresponds to absolute quantitative change. Beta change results from the respondent's subjective recalibration of the measurement scale. Gamma change results from the respondent's reconceptualization of the measured variable. A structural equation method is presented for the evaluation of intervention effects in the nonequivalent control group design when either alpha, beta, or gamma change may have occurred. The method uses an analysis of covariance in the latent variables underlying the pretest and posttest measures. Use of the method in distinguishing the three types of change, and linking them to the intervention, is discussed. The method is illustrated in examples using simulated data. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)
Publication Name: Journal of Applied Psychology
Subject: Social sciences
ISSN: 0021-9010
Year: 1988
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Narrow reasoning about the use of broad personality measures for personnel selection
Article Abstract:
The use of the broad bandwidth personality approach in personnel management may yield undesirable results when selecting employees. This may be explained by the fact that broad personality measures do not only alter the interpretability of personality-job performance findings, but also jeopardize the accuracy of criterion prediction. Narrow bandwidth measures, on the other hand, allow human resource managers to take account of individual traits while developing a general theoretical network of trait-work behavior associations.
Publication Name: Journal of Organizational Behavior
Subject: Social sciences
ISSN: 0894-3796
Year: 1999
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