AN INVESTIGATION OF POSITIVE-FINDINGS BIAS IN EVALUATION OF ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTIONS.

1 December 1985

journal article
Published by Academy of Management in The Academy of Management Journal

Vol. 28 (4) , 889-913
https://doi.org/10.2307/256243

Abstract

This study investigated the possibility of an inverse relationship between methodological rigor and positive results from organization development (OD) interventions in OD evaluations published between 1978 and 1983. The present study attempted to improve upon earlier investigations of the same issue by using (1) the most recent published work, (2) an expanded scope of studies considered, (3) an improved scale for assessing methodological rigor, and (4) a panel of judges to assess the rigor and outcomes of the published studies. Results of the overall analysis indicated no support for the notion of a positive-findings bias in organization development research. However, when we examined only process interventions there was some evidence of a positive-findings bias in published work.

Keywords

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