Satoris Youngcourt Ph.D.

My research interests lie in three main areas: work-life interface, individual differences, and feedback/performance appraisal. Brief descriptions of these areas follow.

Work-Life Interface: As my primary research area, I am interested in the relationship between work and nonwork domains and how this work-life interface affects the individual and the organization. First, I am interested in the nomological network of work-life conflict, examining such things as how individual differences influence perceptions of work-life conflict. Additionally, I am interested in methodological aspects of work-life measures, such as the appropriateness of work-life and work-family scales on different samples. Finally, understanding the processes of the work-life interface is essential because it helps clarify how researchers can develop interventions to lessen the negative effects of work-life conflict. "As such, I am interested in family-friendly policy issues as well as the types of support individuals need and use to alleviate work-life conflict."

Individual Differences: My interests in individual differences involve the influence of such differences on learning, performance, and other work-related outcomes, which have implications for recruitment, selection, and training. In recruitment and applicant attraction, my research involves such topics as individual differences such as personality and goal orientation, in job preferences. From a selection standpoint, I am interested in work ethic in particular. Specifically, I am working on a work ethic scale for use in multiple settings and am examining the relationships between work ethic and task and contextual performance.

Feedback / Performance Appraisal: I am also interested in identifying the criteria for providing effective feedback. Within this area, I have conducted research that examines the extent to which individuals are able to understand and use complex feedback information, research that focuses on redefining and expanding the purposes of the performance appraisal, and research on the extent to which feedback and performance appraisals are linked to important criteria.

Representative Publications

  • Huffman, A. H., Youngcourt, S. S., & Castro, C. A. (in press). Family–friendly environments and U.S. Army soldier performance and work outcomes. Military Psychology.
  • Youngcourt, S. S. , Leiva, P. I., & Jones, R. G. (in press). Perceived purposes of performance appraisal: Correlates of individual- and position-focused purposes. Human Resource Development Quarterly.
  • Huffcutt, A. I., & Youngcourt, S. S. (2007). Employment interviews. In D. L. Whetzel & G. R. Wheaton (Eds.), Applied measurement: Industrial psychology in human resources management. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
  • Payne, S. C., Youngcourt, S. S., & Beaubien, J. M. (2007). A meta-analytic examination of the goal orientation nomological net. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92, 128-150.
  • Pritchard, R. D., Youngcourt, S. S., Philo, J. R, McMonagle, D. C., & David, J. H. (2007). Priority information in performance feedback. Human Performance, 20, 61-83.
  • Payne, S. C., Youngcourt, S. S., & Watrous, K. M. (2006). Portrayals of F. W. Taylor across textbooks. Journal of Management History, 12, 385-407.
  • Youngcourt, S. S., & Huffman, A. H. (2005). Family-friendly policies in the police: Implications for work-family conflict [Electronic Version]. Applied Psychology in Criminal Justice, 1, 138-162.
  • Youngcourt, S. S., Zhang, Z., & Arvey, R. D.(2005). The determinants of the LMX exchange: Potential genetic influences? In G. Graen & J. A. Graen (Eds.), Global organizing designs, LMX leadership: The series (vol. 3; pp. 217-233). Greenwich, CT: Information Age.

Recent Presentations

  • Payne, S. C., Youngcourt, S. S., Lopez, Y. P., Boswell, W. R., & Barger, E. J. (2007, August). The development of psychological contracts during the first year of employment. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Huffman, A. H., Youngcourt, S. S., Moncher, C., & Henning, J. B. (2007, August). The work-family interface in an aging workforce. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.
  • Youngcourt, S. S., & Payne, S. C. (2007, August). Examination of supervisor assessments of employee work-life conflict, supervisor support, and employee reactions to support. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.
  • Payne, S. C., Youngcourt, S. S., Boswell, W., & Barger, E. (2007, April). The influence of newcomer psychological contracts on employee socialization. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, New York, NY.
  • Plemmons, S., Huffman, A. H., Henning, J. B., & Youngcourt, S. S. (2007, April). Work ethic as a predictor of performance: The role of conscientiousness as a mediator. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, New York, NY.
  • Youngcourt, S. S., & Henning, J. B. (2007, April). Negative implications for the inclusion of citizenship performance in ratings. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, New York, NY.

Student Involvement

I am eager to talk to interested students about how they can become involved in ongoing and upcoming research projects. I currently have research at every stage, so students interested in gaining experience from everything from study design, data collection, analyses, writing, and presentations are welcome to contact me. Specific duties and aspects of the research will depend in part on the interests and career goals of the student, the student’s comfort with computers, and previous experience with research, including coursework exposing students to research methodology. There’s always research going on – so motivated students are encouraged to contact me.