How similarity to peers and supervisor influences organizational advancement in different cultures

This study tested hypotheses concerning how similarity of personality traits between promotion candidates and their peers and supervisors influences promotion decisions in different work unit cultures. Personality similarity to peers was positively associated with promotion in units with high individualism. In units with high collectivism, supervisor-subordinate personality similarity was instead a significant predictor of advancement. Behavioral integration between candidates and their peers and supervisors partially mediated the influence of personality similarity on promotion. Demographic similarity had little influence on promotion decisions. We discuss implications for understanding similarity effects and for increasing the validity of promotion decisions.preprin

Organizational Performance and Learning Styles in Hong Kong

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A Validity Study of the Pay Satisfaction Questionnaire in Hong Kong

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Possible selves, strategies and perceived likelihood among adolescents in Hong Kong: desire and concern

Possible selves provide a new perspective and a systematic way to learn about adolescents’ envisioning of their own future. Literature shows some patterns of possible selves are universal worldwide while some are sensitive to context and culture. This study adapted the open-ended Possible Selves Questionnaire into Chinese and explored the general patterns of possible selves among adolescents in Chinese context. 3,078 secondary school students in Hong Kong were surveyed about their possible selves and demographic factors. It is found that adolescents have more career- and school- related hoped-for possible selves and have more drug and risky behavior feared possible selves. Adolescents have less strategy, especially concrete strategy for their possible selves. Gender and age differences were examined and potential contextual and cultural influences were discussed.published_or_final_versio

Study protocol for a controlled trial of Strengths Model Case Management in mental health services in Hong Kong

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The relationship between external job mobility and salary attainment across career stages

The current study examines the relationship between external job mobility and salary for employees in different career stages. Based on career stage and career timetable theories, we predict that external job mobility would generate the greatest salary benefits for early-career employees whereas external job mobility would generate fewer salary benefits for employees in mid- and late career stages. Data collected from multiple industries in Hong Kong and the United States consistently show that, as expected, highly mobile early-career employees earn significantly greater salaries than their less mobile peers do. The positive effects of external job mobility on salary were stronger for early-career workers than for mid-and late-career workers.postprin

Feasibility and potentials of online support for stress management among secondary school teachers

Teachers' work-related stress is a widespread problem. Few studies have used online communications to provide support to teachers, and these were mainly focused on novice teachers. Here, we performed an exploratory study to examine whether the use of online forums by secondary school teachers in Hong Kong could provide social support to manage work-related stress. Following 7 days of forum use, content analysis and post-intervention evaluations were carried out to examine the anonymous communications of 75 secondary school teachers who participated in one of five online discussion forums. Consensus on the coding and categorization of the data was reached among three experienced researchers in qualitative analyses. The online forums were well received by the participants. Most participants reported that they received support from the forum and considered it useful for stress management. These results suggest that online support can be used for stress management among secondary school teachers. Further studies on using online approaches as stress management tools are warranted. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.preprin

An ecological analysis of secondary school students' drug use in Hong Kong: A case-control study

Background: Youth drug use is a significant at-risk youth behaviour and remains as one of the top priorities for mental health services, researchers and policy planners. The ecological characteristics of secondary school students’ behaviour in Hong Kong are understudied. Aim: To examine individual, familial, social and environmental correlates of drug use among secondary students in Hong Kong. Method: Data were extracted from a school survey with 3078 students. Among the 3078 students, 86 students reported to have used drugs in the past 6 months. A total of 86 age- and gender-matched controls with no drug-use behaviour in the past 6 months were randomly selected from the remaining students. Multiple logistic analysis was used to examine differential correlates between those who used and did not use substance in the past 6 months. Result: Positive school experience and perspective to school and parental support are protective factors of drug use. Lower self-esteem, lower self-efficacy against using drugs and higher level of permissive attitude towards drugs were associated with drug use. Students who were low in self-esteem and rather impulsive tend to use drugs. Conclusion: To prevent students from drug use, efforts in individual, family, school and community-levels should be addressed.postprin

An economical fabrication technique for SIMOX using plasma immersion ion implantation

Buried oxide layers in Si were fabricated using non-mass analyzed plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII). The implantation was carried out by applying a large negative bias to a Si wafer immersed in an oxygen plasma and a dose of 3×1017 cm-2 of oxygen was implanted in about three minutes. Cross section transmission electron microscopy (XTEM) and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RES) were used to characterize the wafers. Our results indicate that a continuous buried oxide layer with a single crystal silicon overlayer was synthesizedpublished_or_final_versio

Service learning in medical and nursing training: A randomized controlled trial

The purpose of this study was to explore the long term effect of a service learning project on medical and nursing students' knowledge in aging and their attitudes toward older adults. A total of 124 students were recruited and then randomized to intervention group (IG) and control group (CG). A pre-and-post-intervention design measured students' knowledge in aging (using modified Palmore's Fact on Aging Quiz) and attitudes toward older adults (using Kogan's Old People Scale). A total of 103 students completed all the activities and questionnaires. After the intervention, there were significant differences between the IG and CG on Palmore's mental health (MH) (P =.04), Palmore's total score (P =.02) and Kogan's negative attitudes toward older adults (P =.001). All students increased their positive attitude toward older adults after the intervention. However, both the IG and CG showed a decrease in positive attitudes 1 month after the interventon, and such decrease varied, depending on the programme which students attended. The current study showed that the 10-week service learning activities significantly increased medical and nursing students' overall knowledge of aging and their understanding of mental health needs in old age, and reduced their negative attitudes toward older adults. However, the effect is not long-lasting. On the other hand, its effect on positive attitudes toward older adults cannot be concluded. Periodic contacts with older adults via service learning activities may be needed to sustain attitude change toward older adults. © 2011 The Author(s).published_or_final_versionSpringer Open Choice, 21 Feb 201