Abstract
Making errors represents a stressful event, and the way errors are dealt with are significantly influenced by individuals’ error orientation. Drawing on the stress literature, scholars have identified several dimensions underpinning error orientation construct. Nevertheless, empirical studies have overlooked the construct complexity and do not provide clear theoretical anchors for its operationalization. This study aims to contribute to the error orientation literature by proposing and empirically testing a theoretical framework that integrates stress and attitude theories, on a sample of 443 employees. Specifically, we examined the error orientation facets’ relationships with both two Hofstede’s cultural factors (i.e., power distance and uncertainty avoidance) and work errors (i.e., slips/lapses and mistakes types). Findings from the test of alternative models and from a structural equation model showed the uniqueness of each facet, also in relation to additional study variables, supporting the relevance of adopting this twofold theoretical framework in order to better understand the nature of each facet.
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Maria Luisa Farnese, Roberta Fida and Michele Picoco declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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This study was carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Ethic Committee of the Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome. The protocol was approved by the Ethic Committee of the Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome. All subjects gave written informed consent in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
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Farnese, M.L., Fida, R. & Picoco, M. Error orientation at work: Dimensionality and relationships with errors and organizational cultural factors. Curr Psychol 41, 970–989 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00639-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00639-x