Date of Graduation
5-2016
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (PhD)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
Management
Advisor/Mentor
O'Leary-Kelly, Anne M.
Committee Member
Kish-Gephart, Jennifer J.
Second Committee Member
Soignet, Denise
Keywords
Social sciences; Employee training; Identity; Identity threat; Sexual harassment; Sexual harassment training; Social interactionism
Abstract
Sexual harassment training is a common organizational activity. Yet, we do not have very much knowledge about why sexual harassment training is effective or ineffective. There is evidence that employees often react negatively toward sexual harassment training, and these negative reactions may help explain inconsistent findings regarding whether sexual harassment training improves employees’ knowledge, attitudes, and transfer of training to the job context. This dissertation draws from Social interactionism and identity theory to suggest that employees may experience threats to their valued identities at the announcement of sexual harassment training and during the administration of sexual harassment training. Interactional characteristics, specific identities, and employees’ changing perceptions as a result of the sexual harassment training program are considered as moderators. The effect of identity threat reactions on sexual harassment training outcomes, such as knowledge, backlash attitudes, and transfer of training, are also considered.
Citation
Rawski, S. L. (2016). Understanding Employees’ Reactions to Sexual Harassment Training: Interactional Disruptions, Identity Threats, and Negative Training Outcomes. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/1477
