Organizational research often relies on surrogate variables. By "surrogate" we do not refer to family of construct, factor, or latent variables. Rather, we address the situation where one variable is literally the substitute for another variable that is generally unavailable. Consider, for example, the use of "intent to turnover" or "intent to transfer" variables commonly used when actual turnover or transfer data are unavailable. We demonstrate that reliance on such surrogate variables may lead to some misinterpretation. This tendency may be particularly apparent when the relationship between the surrogate and the actual variable is low. This may be further exacerbated when the relationship between the surrogate variable and a third variable is modest as well.
BLINE, D. M., DUCHON, D., & MEIXNER, W. F.The measurement of organizational and professional commitment: An examination of the psychometric properties of two com-monly used instruments. Behavioral Research in Accounting, 1991, 3, 1-12.
2.
BRETT J. M., & REILLY, A. H.On the road again: Predicting the job transfer decision. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1988, 73, 614-620.
3.
BRETT J. M., STROH, L. K., & REILLY, A. H.Job transfer. In C. L. Cooper and I. T. Robertson (Eds.), International review of industrial and organizational psychology. Wash-ington, D.C.: Employee Relocation Council, 1992.
4.
BRETT, J. M., STROH, L. K., & REILLY, A. H.Pulling up roots in the 1990s: Who's willing to relocate?Journal of Organizational Behavior, 1993, 14, 49-60.
5.
BYCIO, P., HACKETT R. D., & ALLEN, J. S.Further assessment of Bass's (1985) concep-tualization of transactional and transformational leadership. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1995, 80, 468-478.
6.
CARSTEN, J. M., & SPECTOR, P. E.Unemployment, job satisfaction, and employee turn-over: A meta-analytic test of the Muchinsky model. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1987, 72, 374-381.
7.
DALY, J. P., & GEYER, P. D.The role of fairness in implementing large-scale change: Em-ployee evaluations of process and outcome in seven facility relocations. Journal of Or-ganizational Behavior, 1994, 15, 623-638.
8.
DESS, G. G., & ROBINSON, R. B.Measuring organizational performance in the absence of objective measures: The case of the privately-held firm and conglomerate business unit. Strategic Management Journal, 1984, 5, 265-273.
9.
DILLARD, J. F. & FERRIS, K. R.Individual behavior in professional accounting firms. Jour-nal of Accounting Literature, 1989, 8, 208-234.
10.
FISHER, C. D., & SHAW, J. B.Relocation attitudes and adjustment: A longitudinal study. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 1994, 15, 209-224.
11.
GEORGE, J. M., & JONES, G. R.The experience of work and turnover intentions: Inter-active effects of value attainment, job satisfaction, and positive mood. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1996, 81, 318-325.
12.
GORDON, M. E., & DENISI, A. S.A re-examination of the relationship between union membership and job satisfaction. Industrial & Labor Relations Review, 1995, 48, 222-236.
13.
GREGSON, T.Communication satisfaction: A path analytic study of accountants affiliated with CPA firms. Behavioral Research in Accounting, 1990, 2, 32-49.
14.
GREGSON, T.An investigation of the causal ordering of job satisfaction and organizational commitment in turnover models in accounting. Behavior Research in Accounting, 1992, 4, 80-95.
15.
GRIFFETH, R. W., & HOM, P. W.The employee turnover process. In G. R. Ferris (Ed.), Research in personnel and human resources management (Vol. 13). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press, 1995, pp. 245-293.
16.
GUZZO, R. A., NOONAN, K. A., & ELRON, E.Expatriate managers and the psychological contract. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1994, 79, 617-626.
17.
HARRELL, A.A longitudinal examination of large CPA firm auditors' personnel turnover. Advances in Accounting, 1990, 8, 233-246.
18.
HOM, P. W., & GRIFFETH, R. W.Employee turnover. Cincinnati, OH: South-Western College Publishing, 1995.
19.
HOM, P. W., CARANIKAS-WALKER, F., PRUSSIAN, G. E., & GRIFFETH, R. W.A meta-analytical structural equations analysis of a model of employee turnover. Journal of Ap-plied Psychology, 1992, 77, 890-910.
20.
HOOKS, K. L., & CHERAMY, S. J.Facts and myths about women CPAs. Journal of Ac-countancy, October 1994, 79-86.
21.
HUGHES, C. T., & GIBSON, M. L.Students as surrogates for managers in a decision-making environment: An experimental study. Journal of Management Information Systems, 1991, 8(2), 153-166.
22.
HUNT, S. D., & MORGAN, R. M.Organizational commitment: One of many commitments or key mediating construct. Academy of Management Journal, 1994, 37, 1568-1587.
23.
JEHN, K. A.A multimethod examination of the benefits and detriments of intragroup conflict. Administrative Science Quarterly, 1995, 40, 256-282.
24.
JOHNS, G.How often were you absent? A review of the use of self reported absence data. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1994, 79, 574-591.
25.
KIRSCHENBAUM, A., & WEISBERG, J.Job search, intentions, and turnover: The mis-matched trilogy. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 1994, 44, 17-31.
26.
KRAUSZ, M., KOSLOWSKY, M., SHALOM, N., & ELYAKIM, N.Predictors of intentions to leave the ward, the hospital, and the nursing profession: A longitudinal study. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 1995, 16, 277-288.
27.
LAWSON, M. B., & ANGLE, H. L.When organizational relocation means family relocation: An emerging issue for strategic human resource management. Human Resource Manage-ment, 1994, 33, 33-54.
28.
LEE, T. M., & MITCHELL, T. R.An alternative approach: The unfolding model of voluntary employee turnover. Academy of Management Review, 1994, 19, 51-89.
29.
MAUPIN, R. J., & LEHMAN, C. R.Talking heads: Stereotypes, status, sex-roles, and satis-faction of female and male auditors. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 1994, 19(4), 427-437.
30.
MILLER, J. G., & WHEELER, K. G.Unraveling the mysteries of gender differences in intentions to leave the organization. Journal of Organizational Behavior1992, 13(5), 465-478.
31.
MONE, M. A.Relationships between self-concepts, aspirations, emotional responses, and in-tent to leave a downsizing organization. Human Resource Management, 1994, 33, 281-299.
32.
MUNTON, A. G., & WEST M. A.Innovations and personal change: Patterns of adjustment to relocation. Journal of Organizational Behavior;1995, 16, 363-375.
33.
NEAR, .J. P., DWORKIN, T. M., & MICELI, M. P.Explaining the whistle-blowing process: Suggestions from power theory and justice theory. Organization Science, 1993, 4, 393-411.
34.
PEARCE, J. A., & ZAHRA, S. A.The relative power of CEOs and boards of directors. Strategic Management Journal, 1991, 12, 135-153.
35.
QUARLES, R.An examination of promotion opportunities and evaluation criteria as mecha-nisms for affecting internal auditor commitment, job satisfaction, and turnover intentions. Journal of Managerial Issues, 1994, 6(2), 176-194.
36.
RAGINS, B. R., & SCANDURA, T. A.Gender differences in expected outcomes of mentoring relationships. Academy of Management Journal, 1994, 17, 957-971.
37.
REED, S., KRATCHMAN, S., & STRAWSER, R.Job satisfaction, organizational commit-ment, and turnover intentions of United States accountants: The impact of locus of con-trol and gender. Accounting, Auditing, & Accountability Journal, 1994, 7(1), 31-58.
38.
ROSIN, H., & KORABIK, K.Organizational experiences and propensity to leave: A multi-variate investigation of men and women managers. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 1995, 46, 1-16.
39.
SCHWARTZ, E. N.Management women and the new facts of life. Harvard Business Review, 198", 67, 65-76.
40.
SNEAD, K., & HARRELL, A.The impact of psychological factors on the job satisfaction of senior auditors. Behavioral Research in Accounting, 1991, 3, 85-96.
41.
SOMERS, J. J., & CASAL, J. C.Organizational commitment and whistle-blowing: A test of the reformer and the organization man hypothesis. Group & Organization Management, 1994, 19, 270-284.
42.
SOMERS, M. J.Organizational commitment, turnover and absenteeism: An examination of direct and interaction effects. Journal of Organizational Behavior1995, 16, 49-58.
43.
STEELE, R. P., & OVALLE, N. K.A review and meta-analysis of research on the relationship between behavioral intentions and employee turnover. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1984, 69, 673-686.
44.
TABACHNICK, B. G., & FIDELL, L. S.Using multivariate statistics (3rd ed.). New York: Harper Collins, 1996.
45.
TETT, R. P., & MEYER, J. P.Job satisfaction, organizational commitment, turnover intention, and turnover, Path analyses based on meta-analytical findings. Personnel Psychology, 1993, 46, 259-293.
46.
TSUI, A. S., PEARCE, J. L., PORTER, L. W., & HITE, J. P.Choice of employee-organization relationship: Influence of external and internal organizational factors. In G. R. Ferris (Ed.) Research in personnel and human resources management. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press, 1995, pp. 117-151.
47.
WILSON, P. A.Power, politics, and other reasons why senior executives leave the federal government. Public Administration Review, 1994, 54, 12-19.
