Investigations of absenteeism: using event history models to study the absence-taking process

Article Abstract:

Traditional correlational and regression analyses of aggregated absences are ill-suited for estimating parameters of the absence-taking process. A class of event history models is described that effectively deals with the distributional and temporal properties of absences. Once such model, a proportional hazard rate model, was applied to the daily attendance records of 2,130 incumbent, white-collar employees of a national financial service organization. Temporal and historical variables affected the hazard rate of voluntary absence taking. Demographic variables that were significantly correlated with aggregated absences did not improve prediction of the hazard rate. Consequences of violating the modeling assumptions of independent observations and large samples were examined empirically. Results indicated that the model was robust to such violations. Implications of the findings and of the successful application of the model are discussed. Several recommendations are made for using the model in organizations and for future studies of absence taking and other low base-rate events in organizations. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Worker absenteeism, Absenteeism (Labor)

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Stability of skilled performance across time: some generalizations and limitations on utilities

Article Abstract:

We review two closely related phenomena in the study of ability and performance: (a) decreasing predictive validity in ability-performance relations when studied longitudinally and (b) the superdiagonal stability matrices (i.e., simplex-like matrices) found in the correlations between repeated trials on a variety of tasks. We discuss briefly two models that explain these phenomena, a changing task model and a changing-subject model, and report an empirical study in which (a) the generality of the simplex phenomenon in an area of human performance not previously studied and (b) whether the decrease in correlations across time would eventually stabilize (a hypothesis of the changing-task model) were investigated. Intercorrelation matrices of major league baseball performance across 10 years (four measures) indicate that the correlations systematically decrease over time with no evidence of stabilizing. We discuss the implications of these empirical findings and conceptual developments for utilities of selection programs. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Psychological aspects, Ability, Psychology, Applied, Applied psychology, Ability (Psychology)

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Changing validities: ability-performance relations and utilities

Article Abstract:

In response to Ackerman (1989), we address the issue of relating simplex phenomenon in longitudinal growth and development studies with the decrement in predictive validities over time in ability-performance relations. Additional methodological and substantive issues raised by Ackerman are addressed within the context of this conceptual difference in our respective definitions of ability. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

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