Researching

The section of Work and Organizational Psychology stands for high-quality and innovative research on "Changing working environments" with a focus on the flexibilization, intensification, robotization of work and workplace health promotion.

Societal, technological, and demographic changes not only alter the contexts in which work is performed, but also the demands that are placed on employees. Therefore, the aim of our research is to describe changes in work demands and to investigate their detrimental and advantageous effects. It is important for us to better understand the mechanisms underlying strain, motivation, and learning processes as well to identify contextual factors that can help employees to better cope with the changing work demands. This enables us to provide practice with procedures and instruments for optimal work design.

Our empirical research includes a wide range of quantitative and qualitative methods. Usually we rely on repeated surveys (longitudinal studies and diary studies). In addition, we also conduct experiments, observations, psychophysiological measurements, interviews, etc. and deal with the planning, implementation and evaluation of interventions and other measures.

The research topics include:

• Flexibilization of work and associated cognitive demands
• Boundaries between work and leisure time and detachment from work during leisure time
• Design of collaborative work between humans and robots
• Fatigue, stress, and recovery at work
• Job satisfaction, motivation, and engagement
• Self-regulation, procrastination, and performance at work
• Leadership and its influence on motivation and health of employees
• Aging workforces
• Workplace health promotion ("real" as well as e- and m-health interventions)
• Human-system interaction etc.

Please follow the links for more information on ongoing and completed projects (currently only available in German)