• Psychosocial functions of work

• Social media at work

• Microwork

Why do you work? Probably not just for the money. Work also fulfills psychosocial functions that are beneficial for people's mental well-being. Through work, we feel part of a community, we experience recognition, our day is structured and we are activated. These aspects are linked to mental health. Our research team is investigating which forms of work and new developments in the world of work could potentially lead to the psychosocial needs of working people being better - or worse - met. For example, can the use of social media improve the work-life balance? How do certain working conditions - for example, computer-mediated side earnings or even self-employment in the context of microwork or “clickworking” - change the subjective experience of work? How is job insecurity related to the fulfillment of psychosocial needs? Among other things, we draw on Marie Jahoda's model of the latent functions of work, test it empirically and expand its content. The ultimate aim is to get a little closer to solving the puzzle of the (social) meaning of work and thus create the basis for organizations and politics to design better workplaces.

Publications

• Kovacs, C., Batinic, B., Stiglbauer, B. & Gnambs, T. (2019). Development of a shortened version of the Latent and Manifest Benefits of Work (LAMB) scale. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 35, 685-697
• Gnambs, T., Stiglbauer, B., & Selenko, E. (2015). Psychological effects of (non)employment: A cross-national comparison of the United States and Japan. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 56, 659-669.
• Selenko, E. & Batinic, B. (2013). Job Insecurity and the Benefits of Work. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 22, 725-736. [link, opens an external URL in a new window]
• Stiglbauer, B. & Batinic, B. (2012). The role of Jahoda’s latent and financial benefits on work involvement: A longitudinal study. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 81, 259-268.
• Selenko, E. & Batinic, B. (2011). Beyond debt. A moderator analysis of the relationship between perceived financial strain and mental health. Social Science & Medicine, 73, 1725-1732.
• Selenko, E., Batinic, B. & Paul, K. I. (2011). Does latent deprivation lead to psychological distress? Investigating Jahoda's model in a four-wave study. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 84, 723-740. [link, opens an external URL in a new window]
• Paul, K. I., Hassel, A., Batinic, B. & Moser, K. (2011). Die Auswirkungen von Arbeitslosigkeit auf die psychische Gesundheit. Forum Arbeit, 1, 7-12.
• Batinic, B., Selenko, E., Stiglbauer, B. & Paul, K. I. (2010). Are workers in high-status jobs healthier than others? Assessing Jahoda's latent benefits of employment in two working populations. Work & Stress, 24, 73-84. [link, opens an external URL in a new window]
• Paul, K. I. & Batinic, B. (2010). The need for work: Jahoda's latent functions of employment in a representative sample of the German population. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 31, 45-64. [link, opens an external URL in a new window]

• Effects of job insecurity
• Positive and negative aspects of work autonomy
• Dissolution of boundaries between work and private life through new media

Job satisfaction: forms and processes
Work in today's world is characterized by job insecurity and work intensification, but also by flexible forms of employment and increased autonomy and scope for action. In our research, we deal with the question of what consequences these working conditions and characteristics have for the quality of life, work motivation and job satisfaction of employees, both immediately and in the longer term. In particular, we do not view job satisfaction as a static, one-dimensional variable, but rather as the dynamic result of an ongoing comparison of actual and target values. In addition, we try to identify factors that can mitigate or prevent unfavorable effects of these working conditions and characteristics or ensure positive effects - because many of these “new” working conditions are not “good” or “bad” per se. For example, whether flexibility is a resource for employees or has negative effects can depend on the implementation of flexibilization, the work situation or individual requirements and needs. Ultimately, the aim of our research is to provide clues for the humanitarian design of work in today's world.

Publications

• Stiglbauer, B. & Kovacs, C. (2018). The more, the better? Curvilinear effects of job autonomy on well-being from Vitamin Model and PE-Fit theory perspectives. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 23(4), 520-536, https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000107, opens an external URL in a new window
• Stiglbauer, B. (2017). Differential challenge and hindrance stressor relations with job-related core affect. International Journal of Stress Management. 25.http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/str0000076, opens an external URL in a new window
• Stiglbauer, B. & Zuber, J. (2018). Challenge and hindrance stress among school teachers. Psychology in the Schools, 55, 707-721.
• Kovacs, C., Stiglbauer, B., Batinic, B. & Gnambs, T. (2018). Exploring different forms of job (dis)satisfaction and their relationship with well‐being, motivation and performance. Applied Psychology, 67, 523-556.
• Stiglbauer, B. (2017). Under what conditions does job control moderate the relationship between time pressure and employee well-being? Investigating the role of match and personal control beliefs. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 38, 730-748.
• Gattringer, F. & Batinic B. (2016). Die Rolle von Cyberslacking im Kontext von Life-Domain-Konflikten und Telearbeit. Wirtschaftspsychologie, 18, 5-14.
• Stiglbauer, B. & Batinic, B. (2015). Proactive coping with job insecurity – beneficial or harmful? Work & Stress, 29, 264-285. doi: 10.1080/02678373.2015.1074956 [link], opens an external URL in a new window
• Stiglbauer, B., Selenko, E., Batinic, B. & Jodlbauer, S. (2012). On the link between job insecurity, well-being, and turnover intentions and the moderating effect of work involvement. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 17, 354-364.
• Jodlbauer, S., Selenko, E., Batinic, B. & Stiglbauer, B. (2012). The relationship between job dissatisfaction and training transfer. International Journal of Training and Development, 16, 39-53

• Non-reactive data collection: wearables, beatery and beacons

Internet survey
We have been involved in the planning, implementation and follow-up of online surveys since 1994 - and were probably the first in the German-speaking world to do so. We also deal with the use of online panels and strategies for recruiting participants. Our research provides insights into the criteria that good survey software should fulfill, how online questionnaires should be structured, what response rates can be expected from online surveys and how their data quality can be improved. We are currently also looking at new survey options that have arisen and are emerging as a result of mobile technologies. For example, how can the measurement of behavioral data using fitness bands supplement or enrich questionnaire data? How can cell phones be used effectively as a survey instrument? The aim is to explore and demonstrate the potential of new technologies as instruments of applied psychological research.

Publications

• Batinic, B., & Kovacs, C. (2017). Online employee surveys and online feedback. In: G. Hertel, D. L. Stone, R. D. Johnson, & J. Passmore. The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of the psychology of the Internet at work (pp.347-368). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.
• Batinic, B. (2014). Kommentar zu dem Beitrag „Ein national gefördertes Onlinelabor als Infrastruktur für die psychologische Forschung“. Psychologische Rundschau, 65, 227-229.
• Stiglbauer, B., Gnambs, T. & Gamsjäger, M. (2011). The interactive effects of motivations and trust in anonymity on adolescents’ enduring participation in web-based social science research: A longitudinal behavioral analysis. International Journal of Internet Science, 6, 29-43. [link, opens an external URL in a new window]
• Stiglbauer, B. & Gnambs, T. (2011). Online-Forschung – Möglichkeiten und Grenzen. In H. Moser (Hrsg.), Professionswissen für Lehrerinnen und Lehrer. Band 10: Forschung in der Lehrerbildung. (S. 207-220). Zürich: Verlag Pestalozzianum.
• Gnambs, T., Batinic, B., & Hertel, G. (2011). Internetbasierte psychologische Diagnostik. In L. F. Hornke, M. Amelang & M. Kersting (Eds.), Verfahren zur Leistungs-, Intelligenz- und Verhaltensdiagnostik, Enzyklopädie der Psychologie, Psychologische Diagnostik (Bd. II/3, pp. 448-498). Göttingen: Hogrefe.
• Gnambs, T., Appel, M. & Batinic, B. (2010). Color red in web-based knowledge testing. Computers in Human Behavior, 26, 1625-1631. [link, opens an external URL in a new window]
• Batinic, B. & Moser, K. (2005). Determinanten der Rücklaufquoten in Online-Panels. Zeitschrift für Medienpsychologie, 17, 64-74.
• Batinic, B. (2004). Online Research. In P. Vorderer, R. Mangold & G. Bente (Hrsg.), Lehrbuch der Medienpsychologie (S. 251-270). Göttingen: Hogrefe.
• Batinic, B. (2003). Internetbasierte Befragungsverfahren. Österreichische Zeitschrift für Soziologie, 4, 6-18.
• Batinic, B., Reips, U.-D. & Bosnjak, M. (Eds.). (2002). Online Social Sciences. Seattle, WA: Hogrefe & Huber.
• Batinic, B. & Moser, K. (2001). Neue Methoden für Medienpsychologie: Online Panels. Zeitschrift für Medienpsychologie, 13, 45-49.
• Batinic, B. & Bosnjak, M. (2000). Fragebogenuntersuchungen im Internet. In B. Batinic (Hrsg., 2. Aufl.), Internet für Psychologen (S. 287-317).

• Social Medias at work
• Dissolution of boundaries between work and private life through new media
• Formative job satisfaction evaluation

In our research, we take a differentiated approach to new technologies and their potential uses. The aim of our research is to identify the advantages and disadvantages, the framework conditions and the psychological processes involved in the use of these new technologies in order to make the truth content of the myths and wisdom discussed in society more assessable. The establishment of the Internet has given rise to new information and communication technologies that have brought numerous changes to our everyday working lives and will continue to do so in the future. How have structures and processes in the world of work changed as a result of the emergence of new media from a psychological perspective? Social media open up additional opportunities for communication in the workplace. They could therefore contribute to the psychosocial function of work, but also represent potential time wasters and distractions. Private Internet use during working hours could jeopardize productivity on the one hand, but also fulfill a coping or recreational function on the other. Our research aims to create a deeper understanding of the role of social and new media in the work context in order to efficiently utilize their potential and counteract their risks at an early stage

Publications

• Stiglbauer, B., & Weber, S. (2018). A picture paints a thousand words: The influence of taking selfies on place identification. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 58, 18-26.
• Gattringer, F., Stiglbauer, B., Rührlinger, M., Lankes, M., & Hagler, J. (2017). Co-smonauts: Game interfaces for elderly people in co-located and collaborative play. Proceedings of the 11th Annual International Conference on Computer Games Multimedia & Allied Technologies (pp.8-14). Singapore.
• Böhm, M., & Stiglbauer, B. (2017). Berufliche Rehabilitation von Menschen mit psychosozialem Unterstützungsbedarf in einer Arbeitswelt 4.0. SWS-Rundschau, 57(3), 288-304.
• Gattringer, F. & Batinic B. (2016). Die Rolle von Cyberslacking im Kontext von Life-Domain-Konflikten und Telearbeit. Wirtschaftspsychologie, 18(2), 5-14.
• Appel, M., Stiglbauer, B., Batinic, B., & Holtz, P. (2014). Internet use and verbal aggression: The moderating role of parents and peers. Computers in Human Behavior, 33, 235-241. [link, opens an external URL in a new window]
• Appel, M., Mara, M., & Weber, S. (2014). Media and Identity. In M. B. Oliver & A. Raney (Eds.), Media and Social Life(pp.16-28). New York: Routledge.
• Jadin, T., Gnambs, T. & Batinic, B. (2013). Personality traits and knowledge sharing in online communities. Computers in Human Behavior, 29, 210-216.
• Appel, M. (2012). Are heavy users of computer games and social media more computer literate? Computers & Education, 59, 1339-1350. [pdf, opens an external URL in a new window]
• Appel, M., Holtz, P., Stiglbauer, B. & Batinic, B. (2012). Parents as a resource: Communication quality affects the relationship between adolescents’ Internet use and loneliness. Journal of Adolescence, 35, 1641-1648. [pdf, opens an external URL in a new window]
• Holtz, P. & Appel, M. (2011). Internet use and video gaming predict problem behavior in early adolescence. Journal of Adolescence, 34, 49-58. [pdf, opens an external URL in a new window]
• Jadin, T., Gruber, A. & Batinic, B. (2009). Learning with e-lectures. The meaning of learning strategies and design principles. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 12,282-288. [pdf, opens an external URL in a new window]
• Batinic, B. & Göritz, A. (2009). How does social psychology deal with new media? Social Psychology, 40, 3-5.
• Batinic, B. & Appel, M. (2009). Online-Bewerbungen aus Sicht von Bewerbern und Unternehmen. Zeitschrift für Personalpsychologie, 8, 14-23.
• Hertel, G., Schroer, J., Batinic, B. & Naumann, S. (2008). Do shy persons prefer to send e-mail? Personality effects on communication media preferences in threatening and non-threatening situations. Social Psychology, 39, 231-243.