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Work paradigm as a moderator between cognitive factors and behaviors – A comparison of mechanical and rebar workers

  • Construction Management
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Abstract

Since human behavior has been argued as one of the most critical leading indicators of accidents, effective intervention in workers’ behavior may foster improved safety performance. Given that human behavior is directed by cognition, researchers have proposed various cognitive models of human behavior in order to provide a clearer understanding of how to allocate management resources. However, the influence of human cognition on behavior remains an overarching concept, rather than providing an understanding of the heterogeneity among various trades. Therefore, cognition research provides no guidance regarding how to strategically allocate management resources such as training. This study employed structural equation modeling to identify the cognitive structures of two trades (reinforcing steel bar and elevator workers). We find that the cognitive structures of workers in these sample trades are significantly different, indicating that management strategies should vary accordingly. Training of mechanical workers should focus on crew leads, who can further influence self-efficacy, risk comparisons, and workers’ perception of external conditions. For rebar crews, safety training should focus on self-supporting defense capability and elucidating dangerous behaviors. External conditions have a significant role in ensuring worker safety; safe facilities engender safe behaviors. This study lays a foundation of strategic resource allocation for behavioral management on construction jobsites.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Construction Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

    Pin-Chao Liao, Yanqing Wang, Xiaoyun Wang & Tsenguun Ganbat

  2. College of Management and Economics, Tianjing University, Tianjing, China

    Bingsheng Liu

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  1. Pin-Chao Liao
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  2. Bingsheng Liu
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  3. Yanqing Wang
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  4. Xiaoyun Wang
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Correspondence to Bingsheng Liu.

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Liao, PC., Liu, B., Wang, Y. et al. Work paradigm as a moderator between cognitive factors and behaviors – A comparison of mechanical and rebar workers. KSCE J Civ Eng 21, 2514–2525 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-017-0091-2

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