Research   Abstract  No.74 
                        Review and synthesis of research studies relating to work
outcomes 
                                                          by 
                                            Preteep      Jinnge 
                                                              Dusadee   Yolao 
                                                              Usa           Srigindarat 


                         The objectives of this research study were  to
summarize the progress and   development  of  research  results  relating 
to work  outcomes,  and to  look  for  variables   affecting    work outcomes 
using  the meta-analysis  method  to compute  and combine effect sizes.    
The sample consisted of  222  researches published during 1987 - 1995. 
Data coding  form, developed  by  researchers,  was  used  as  tool  to 
collect  research  results.  The data  was then analyzed and synthesized
using qualitative and quantitative methods of research integration. 
                     The following findings are found  : 
                    1. Work outcomes  from  research  findings  can  be grouped   
into   3 
 categories   as work behavior, work performance, and work efficiency. 
                    2. Samples  used  in  most  researches  were  government
officials (81.47 %),  and the rest remainders were  from private
organizations (18.53%). 
                    3. According  to  research   problems  content ,  researches on 
work  outcomes  are divided   into   the  following  proportions : 54.06% of 
them studied work problems and  level of work outcomes, 22.52 %  
compares  work  outcomes,   3.60 % correlated   variables  with  work 
outcomes,    18.02%   studied  effect  of  variables  on  work outcomes and
1.80%  used  training to improve work outcomes. 
                    4. Results of qualitative research integration  are as follows: 
                          4.1 The integration shows moderate level  of  work
problems.   The important   work  problems  are:    lack  of  ability  and  
knowledge  to perform   work  (23.91%),     lack  of   personnel  
(19.56%),    lack  of  work  cooperation      (17.39%),  irresponsibility  of
personnel  (13.04%),   lack of  cooperation   from  others  (10.87%),    lack 
of   monitoring  and  evaluation  of   work  outcomes(10.87%),  lack of
work role understanding  (8.69%), and lack of  internal and external
relations. 
                        4.2  The integration shows high level of work outcomes. 
                        4.3   Independent   variables   found    in   studies    that  
compared  work  problems  are:   position   at  work,  educational level,
work experience,   time at work, age,   marital status,  gender, salary,
etc.      However  the only one  variable that showed significant result is
status at work. 
                        4.4  Independent  variables  found  in  studies  comparing   
level of work outcomes are:   status  at  work,  educational level, work
experience, age, gender, training, etc.      The  results from these
comparisons are not significant. 
                        4.5  When   researches  are  grouped   into  correlation   
study,   the 
following results are found. 
                            4.5.1 External   variables   related  to   work  outcomes  
are  :   physical 
 environment, leadership  behavior,  relationship  in  workgroup, work
hours per day, support,   work experience,number of personnel,
cooperation among workers, work coordination, housing, personality of
coworkers, and professional relationship. 
                            4.5.2  Internal  variables  found  related  to work outcomes
are  : knowledge  of  work  understanding of work  role, attitude toward
work, and  ethics. 
                            4.5.3  Bio-social    variables   found   related   to  work are
: age,  work  experience ,  position at work, time in  position, and
educational level. 
                    4.6 When   researches   are    grouped   into   multivariate    
correlational 
study,    the following results are found. 
                        4.6.1  External variables found  affecting work outcomes  
are :  social   support,   leadership,   inservice training ,  empowerment,  
physical environment,   relationship   among  workers,  communication, 
supervision,  management policy, work participation,   opportunity to
show ability, management  scope, work atmosphere,  job characteristics,    
cooperation,    administrative   behaviors,      receiving    information
related  to  work, working resources,   quality  of   supervision,  database 
accessibility,    available  time  on   job,   work  strategy,   justice,  
personnel    preparation,   applying  psychological   knowledge,   work  
appraisal,    social   and   economic   status,      transportation,  efficiency of
work  unit, work stability, opportunity for advancement, conflict in work, 
structure  of  teamwork,    reward  from work,  accomplishment, 
respectfulness,   work discipline,   specialization,   role   performance,  
diffuse   of   power,  problem of local politic, human resources in area and
society,   information management,   local culture. 
                        4.6.2   Internal    variables     found   affecting   work 
outcomes    are :  work  attitude,   knowledge  and  ability of work,   job  
satisfaction,    achievement    motivation,  work  perception,   work 
motivation,   internal   locus  of  control,    understanding  of  work  role
and  duty,  personality, Buddhist characteristics, future orientation,
outcome expectation,    morale,  human  relationship,   limitation  of  work 
related   knowledge, responsibility,  self control,  energetically work, 
moral  reasoning,  mental health, and organization culture. 
                        4.6.3  Bio-social   variables   found   affecting    work   
outcomes   are :    age, educational level, gender, work  experiences, 
income,  time in work, job position, marital status, occupation, salary,
special ability,   childcare responsibility , work load, household
neighborhood. 
                    4.7     Studies of work outcomes improvement suggested that 
training  in 
 areas  relating  to  work  behaviors   and   psychological    traits   can  
improve   work  outcomes.      Use of modeling techniques to improve work
behaviors is one example. 
                    4.8  The   quantitative   synthesis   of   research   results  
using   vote   counting method   as  proposed   by    Hedges   found   that  
the  estimate  effect  size  for bio-social variables is 0.01  where as  the 
effect   size  for  the internal variables is between 0.02-0.05,  and  the 
effect  size  for  the  external variables is between 0.01-0.10.   Variables
that   have  positive  effect  on  work   outcomes are :   pay,  work 
knowledge, 
  job satisfaction,   work   attitude,   motivation  to  work,    role 
understanding,  and  locus of control,   achievement motivation.   The
important  external variables are social supports,  leader behaviors, 
relationship among workers,  communication,  physical environment, 
management policy, and work atmosphere. 

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