Help-seeking: testing the effects of task interdependence and normativeness on employees' propensity to seek help

Authors: Cleavenger, Dean; Gardner, William; Mhatre, Ketan

Source: Journal of Business and Psychology, Volume 21, Number 3, March 2007 , pp. 331-359(29)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

This study explores the effects of task interdependence (high versus low) and helping norms (supportive versus non-supportive) on propensity to seek help. Participants were most likely to seek help when: (1) task interdependence was high, and (2) supportive help-seeking norms were operative. A 2-way interaction also emerged. Under the non-supportive norms condition, help-seeking was greatest for high versus low levels of task interdependence; when supportive norms were operative, relatively high levels of help-seeking arose across task interdependence conditions. No support for the hypotheses that high self-esteem, high task specific self-efficacy, and low achievement motivation would increase help-seeking was obtained.

Keywords: help-seeking; task interdependence; self-esteem; self-efficacy; achievement motivation

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10869-006-9032-7

Affiliations: 1: Email: william.gardner@ttu.edu

Publication date: 2007-03-01