The ability of employees to interact cooperatively and collaboratively is the fulcrum of competit... more The ability of employees to interact cooperatively and collaboratively is the fulcrum of competitive advantage for organizations operating in pluralistic environments. Contact theory suggests several conditions under which effective interpersonal relationships across racial, ethnic, and cultural groups may occur. Research examining the contact hypothesis has been mixed. The explanation of this inconsistency in the research generally centers on procedural rather than cognitive aspects of the interactions. This article discusses the contact hypothe-sis with respect to social cognitive functioning of interaction participants. We propose that positive outcomes from application of the contact hypothesis may be influenced by the individual employees ’ level of cross-race interpersonal efficacy and affect regulation. An investigation of the influence of cross-race interpersonal efficacy and affect regulation may lead to a more developed theoretical understanding of the variance currently a...
All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you... more All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you access and read them immediately.
The present study examines perceptions of job attribute preferences among Caucasian and African A... more The present study examines perceptions of job attribute preferences among Caucasian and African American business undergraduate students. It is argued that there will be significant differences in job attribute preferences when compared by race, and that these differences can be explained by the consideration of ethnic identity. Furthermore, it also argued that the relationship between ethnic identity and job attribute preferences is influenced by a respondent’s level of self-efficacy, such that respondents with higher levels of efficacy placed greater emphasis on job attributes than those with lower levels of efficacy. The data also suggest there are significant differences in 19 of 21 job attribute preferences when compared by race. We discuss the contributions of this study to the college job recruitment literature
Sociological research demonstrates that working class, first-generation, and financially insecure... more Sociological research demonstrates that working class, first-generation, and financially insecure students face unique challenges in their matriculation through college. Class Beyond the Classroom (CBtC) invited faculty, administrators, and students to share their personal experiences of attending college as working class, first-generation, or financially insecure students with the goals of normalizing such experiences and supporting student success. Among other efforts, CBtC has held Our Stories events which involve faculty and staff members sharing their stories with students and small group discussion. These efforts have broadened awareness of these issues, created opportunities for students to ask questions and find informal mentors, and normalized these kinds of experiences for the members of the campus community. We will review research on outreach to first-generation students and story-sharing, delineate the processes and outcomes of the Our Stories events, and provide an overview of an initial pilot study documenting the efficacy this program at BSU
Between 70 million and 100 million Americans—or as many as one in three—have some type of crimina... more Between 70 million and 100 million Americans—or as many as one in three—have some type of criminal record (Vallas & Dietrich, 2014). Having even a minor criminal record often functions as a significant impediment to gainful employment and resultant economic security. This is especially problematic given that: (a) many companies now incorporate background checks within their hiring process and (b) little empirical research exists about the relationship between criminal records and job performance. Thus, this study examined the relationship between criminal records and objective performance of customer service representatives (N = 627) in a large telecommunications firm. Our regression analyses indicate that criminal record was not a predictor of job performance.
Between 70 Million and 100 Million Americans – or as many as one in three – have some type of cri... more Between 70 Million and 100 Million Americans – or as many as one in three – have some type of criminal record (Vallas & Dietrich, 2014). Communities of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals are disproportionately impacted. Having even a minor criminal record often functions as a significant impediment to gainful employment and economic security. This is especially problematic given that: (a) many companies now incorporate background checks within their hiring process, and (b) little empirical research exists about the relationship between criminal record and job performance. The present study examined the relationship between criminal record and five objective measures of job performance, as well as tenure and turnover, in a large sample (N = 1,066) of Customer Service Representatives (CSR’s) from a Fortune 500 media company. Criminal record was not a robust predictor of job performance, on average accounting for less than 1% of the variance in criterion measures
Obtaining job relevant skills while incarcerated is an important component to overcoming the stig... more Obtaining job relevant skills while incarcerated is an important component to overcoming the stigma of a criminal history when seeking employment. Using a focus group research design, we explored occupational roles and feelings of preparedness among men and women housed in work release facilities. We found: 1) women perceived their training to be of less value as compared to their male counterparts, 2) women and men perceived differences related to their receipt of employment assistance, 3) women and men differed in explanations of prior work experience, and 4) perceptual differences appeared to be affected by the frequency of incarceration.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 2019
The purpose of this paper is to present a systematic review of research conducted over the past t... more The purpose of this paper is to present a systematic review of research conducted over the past ten years (2008–2018) that examines the relationship between criminal record and work in the USA. Furthermore, a research agenda is presented that may help to better inform future investigations of the relationships shared between these variables.,The authors review 58 peer-reviewed research articles identified in four electronic article databases: Business Source Premier, PsycINFO, ProQuest Sociology Collection and ProQuest Criminology Collection.,Of the 58 articles fitting the final inclusion criteria, 37 evaluated employee specific related outcomes, whereas 24 took the perspective of the employer (including some overlap). Studies employed a variety of methodologies and techniques, with qualitative interviews, archival data and audit methods as the most prevalent. Few studies examined the relationships between criminal record and work in ways that demonstrated improved employment outcomes for both employer and the employed together.,This is one of the first papers to synthesize interdisciplinary literature related to criminal record and employment, including an assessment of the varying methodological treatments and perspectives used in research studies to assess this relationship. The authors believe the findings from this research effort will provide much needed research direction for investigators seeking to make contributions to improving employment outcomes.
This study tested the respective learning (LGO) and performance approach goal orientation (PGO) e... more This study tested the respective learning (LGO) and performance approach goal orientation (PGO) effects on individual interest in cross-cultural development opportunities. Two studies found support for the positive effects of LGO on interest in professional and educational opportunities in international cultures. We also found evidence of a positive LGO relationship with interest in cross-cultural development opportunities when dissimilarity with respect to institutional affiliation was introduced as part of the cross-cultural experience. In contrast, PGO was positively associated with uncertainty, and uncertainty mediated the relationship between PGO and interest. Study 2 identified conditions under which PGO was associated with uncertainty. We discuss implications for theory and practice.
Research supports that trainee attributes play a pivotal role in the success of the training or d... more Research supports that trainee attributes play a pivotal role in the success of the training or development intervention. Training motivation and motivation to transfer training back to the job are...
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 2017
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that affect how managers assess the impo... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that affect how managers assess the importance of criminal history for job seekers with criminal records in Ban the Box states. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a phenomenological investigative approach to examine narrative interview data obtained from 18 human resource (HR) professionals in organizations in five Ban the Box states. Findings Contrary to previous research, the findings presented in this paper show that managers are inclined to hire applicants with a criminal history. However, study findings indicate that those hiring decisions are positively influenced by: perceived value of criminal history; concerns about safety and cost; characteristics of the offense; motivation to hire; and evidence of applicant growth. Furthermore, a lack of systematic evaluation processes among hiring managers may present a barrier to employment. Originality/value This paper explores a poorly understood area of the HR manageme...
Today, globalization, rapid develop- ment of technology, and increased economic pressures all req... more Today, globalization, rapid develop- ment of technology, and increased economic pressures all require a thorough reexamination of human resources, making the need to focus on diversity all the more apparent.
The ability of employees to interact cooperatively and collaboratively is the fulcrum of competit... more The ability of employees to interact cooperatively and collaboratively is the fulcrum of competitive advantage for organizations operating in pluralistic environments. Contact theory suggests several conditions under which effective interpersonal relationships across racial, ethnic, and cultural groups may occur. Research examining the contact hypothesis has been mixed. The explanation of this inconsistency in the research generally centers on procedural rather than cognitive aspects of the interactions. This article discusses the contact hypothe-sis with respect to social cognitive functioning of interaction participants. We propose that positive outcomes from application of the contact hypothesis may be influenced by the individual employees ’ level of cross-race interpersonal efficacy and affect regulation. An investigation of the influence of cross-race interpersonal efficacy and affect regulation may lead to a more developed theoretical understanding of the variance currently a...
All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you... more All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you access and read them immediately.
The present study examines perceptions of job attribute preferences among Caucasian and African A... more The present study examines perceptions of job attribute preferences among Caucasian and African American business undergraduate students. It is argued that there will be significant differences in job attribute preferences when compared by race, and that these differences can be explained by the consideration of ethnic identity. Furthermore, it also argued that the relationship between ethnic identity and job attribute preferences is influenced by a respondent’s level of self-efficacy, such that respondents with higher levels of efficacy placed greater emphasis on job attributes than those with lower levels of efficacy. The data also suggest there are significant differences in 19 of 21 job attribute preferences when compared by race. We discuss the contributions of this study to the college job recruitment literature
Sociological research demonstrates that working class, first-generation, and financially insecure... more Sociological research demonstrates that working class, first-generation, and financially insecure students face unique challenges in their matriculation through college. Class Beyond the Classroom (CBtC) invited faculty, administrators, and students to share their personal experiences of attending college as working class, first-generation, or financially insecure students with the goals of normalizing such experiences and supporting student success. Among other efforts, CBtC has held Our Stories events which involve faculty and staff members sharing their stories with students and small group discussion. These efforts have broadened awareness of these issues, created opportunities for students to ask questions and find informal mentors, and normalized these kinds of experiences for the members of the campus community. We will review research on outreach to first-generation students and story-sharing, delineate the processes and outcomes of the Our Stories events, and provide an overview of an initial pilot study documenting the efficacy this program at BSU
Between 70 million and 100 million Americans—or as many as one in three—have some type of crimina... more Between 70 million and 100 million Americans—or as many as one in three—have some type of criminal record (Vallas & Dietrich, 2014). Having even a minor criminal record often functions as a significant impediment to gainful employment and resultant economic security. This is especially problematic given that: (a) many companies now incorporate background checks within their hiring process and (b) little empirical research exists about the relationship between criminal records and job performance. Thus, this study examined the relationship between criminal records and objective performance of customer service representatives (N = 627) in a large telecommunications firm. Our regression analyses indicate that criminal record was not a predictor of job performance.
Between 70 Million and 100 Million Americans – or as many as one in three – have some type of cri... more Between 70 Million and 100 Million Americans – or as many as one in three – have some type of criminal record (Vallas & Dietrich, 2014). Communities of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals are disproportionately impacted. Having even a minor criminal record often functions as a significant impediment to gainful employment and economic security. This is especially problematic given that: (a) many companies now incorporate background checks within their hiring process, and (b) little empirical research exists about the relationship between criminal record and job performance. The present study examined the relationship between criminal record and five objective measures of job performance, as well as tenure and turnover, in a large sample (N = 1,066) of Customer Service Representatives (CSR’s) from a Fortune 500 media company. Criminal record was not a robust predictor of job performance, on average accounting for less than 1% of the variance in criterion measures
Obtaining job relevant skills while incarcerated is an important component to overcoming the stig... more Obtaining job relevant skills while incarcerated is an important component to overcoming the stigma of a criminal history when seeking employment. Using a focus group research design, we explored occupational roles and feelings of preparedness among men and women housed in work release facilities. We found: 1) women perceived their training to be of less value as compared to their male counterparts, 2) women and men perceived differences related to their receipt of employment assistance, 3) women and men differed in explanations of prior work experience, and 4) perceptual differences appeared to be affected by the frequency of incarceration.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 2019
The purpose of this paper is to present a systematic review of research conducted over the past t... more The purpose of this paper is to present a systematic review of research conducted over the past ten years (2008–2018) that examines the relationship between criminal record and work in the USA. Furthermore, a research agenda is presented that may help to better inform future investigations of the relationships shared between these variables.,The authors review 58 peer-reviewed research articles identified in four electronic article databases: Business Source Premier, PsycINFO, ProQuest Sociology Collection and ProQuest Criminology Collection.,Of the 58 articles fitting the final inclusion criteria, 37 evaluated employee specific related outcomes, whereas 24 took the perspective of the employer (including some overlap). Studies employed a variety of methodologies and techniques, with qualitative interviews, archival data and audit methods as the most prevalent. Few studies examined the relationships between criminal record and work in ways that demonstrated improved employment outcomes for both employer and the employed together.,This is one of the first papers to synthesize interdisciplinary literature related to criminal record and employment, including an assessment of the varying methodological treatments and perspectives used in research studies to assess this relationship. The authors believe the findings from this research effort will provide much needed research direction for investigators seeking to make contributions to improving employment outcomes.
This study tested the respective learning (LGO) and performance approach goal orientation (PGO) e... more This study tested the respective learning (LGO) and performance approach goal orientation (PGO) effects on individual interest in cross-cultural development opportunities. Two studies found support for the positive effects of LGO on interest in professional and educational opportunities in international cultures. We also found evidence of a positive LGO relationship with interest in cross-cultural development opportunities when dissimilarity with respect to institutional affiliation was introduced as part of the cross-cultural experience. In contrast, PGO was positively associated with uncertainty, and uncertainty mediated the relationship between PGO and interest. Study 2 identified conditions under which PGO was associated with uncertainty. We discuss implications for theory and practice.
Research supports that trainee attributes play a pivotal role in the success of the training or d... more Research supports that trainee attributes play a pivotal role in the success of the training or development intervention. Training motivation and motivation to transfer training back to the job are...
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 2017
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that affect how managers assess the impo... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that affect how managers assess the importance of criminal history for job seekers with criminal records in Ban the Box states. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a phenomenological investigative approach to examine narrative interview data obtained from 18 human resource (HR) professionals in organizations in five Ban the Box states. Findings Contrary to previous research, the findings presented in this paper show that managers are inclined to hire applicants with a criminal history. However, study findings indicate that those hiring decisions are positively influenced by: perceived value of criminal history; concerns about safety and cost; characteristics of the offense; motivation to hire; and evidence of applicant growth. Furthermore, a lack of systematic evaluation processes among hiring managers may present a barrier to employment. Originality/value This paper explores a poorly understood area of the HR manageme...
Today, globalization, rapid develop- ment of technology, and increased economic pressures all req... more Today, globalization, rapid develop- ment of technology, and increased economic pressures all require a thorough reexamination of human resources, making the need to focus on diversity all the more apparent.
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Papers by Jakari Griffith