28th International Congress of Psychology August 8 ... - U-netSURF

How can employee competence be enhanced at work? The study examines the impact of
participation on team competence. The sample consists of 44 self-directed work groups and 39
traditional work groups. Using process-analytic behavioral data on the group level of analysis the
results show that self-directed teams are more competent than traditional work groups in
methodological, professional and self aspects of competence. They show no greater social
competence. In addition, the results suggest that in the sub-sample of self-directed work teams the
amount of participation prior to training and the continuous improvement process explain further
variance.
4008.4 Assessment of conditions and competencies for transactive knowledge systems in
organizations, E. Brauner 1 , D. Sommer 2 , M. Jochmann 3 , 1 The City University of New York,
New York, USA; 2 University of Jena, Germany; 3 IPA North America, USA
Cooperation in work groups and organizations vastly depends on knowledge each person holds
about others' knowledge. Knowing who knows what, that is transactive knowledge, enables
members to coordinate their work by referring to each other, assigning areas of expertise, and
delegating subtasks to competent colleagues. Transactive knowledge thus is a core competency for
working in an organization. A questionnaire assessing five dimensions of transactive knowledge
has been developed. Dimensions and adjacent items will be presented. Furthermore, results of the
evaluation and validation of the questionnaire will be presented and discussed along with results
from a first study in the field.
4008.5 Transfer role strain and motivation to improve work through learning, R. Bates 1 , S.
Kauffeld 2 , 1 Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA; 2 University of Kassel, Kassel,
Germany
This study tests the assumption that organizational training and efforts to apply training on the job
create job-related stress that influences an individual’s motivation to improve work through
learning. Path analysis will be used to test a model indicating that the level of interpersonal
support, performance feedback, and workgroups norms about change affect the stress
accompanying training and subsequent transfer-related motivation. Analysis will also test the
hypothesis that an individual’s stress reaction will be a function of his/her need for transfer role
clarity and need for transfer-related support. Implications for improving learning transfer and
future research will be discussed.
4009 INVITED SYMPOSIUM
The psychological well-being of fathers after divorce and separation: Cross cultural
psychological perspectives
Convener and Chair: A.M. Wang, USA
Co-convener: G. Stone, USA
4009.1 Single fathers raising children: A 30 year view from the U.S., G. Greif 1 , A.D. Greif 2 ,
1 2
University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA; Atwood Community Center, Madison, WI, USA
Since 1970, the number of single father-headed families in the U.S. has risen from nearly 400,000
to over 2 million. This profound shift and the increases in joint custody place fathers in a much
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