Risk Taking Research
Our risk taking research examines how individuals perceive and respond to risks across various contexts, with a focus on workplace applications. We investigate both the fundamental science of risk-taking dispositions and how these manifest in organizational settings.
- Individual differences in risk perception and tolerance
- Workplace risk behaviors and their consequences
- Contextual factors that influence risk decisions
Employee Selection Research
This research stream investigates how organizations make personnel decisions and the factors that influence these processes. We examine cognitive biases in hiring, methods to improve selection outcomes, and bridging the gap between research and practice.
- Decision-making processes in recruitment and selection
- Improving interview and assessment methods
- Communicating evidence-based practices to practitioners
Resources
To request access to any of these resources for research purposes, please contact us with details about your intended use.
General Risk Propensity Scale (GRiPS)
A 8-item domain-general risk propensity measure aimed at measuring individual differences in risk taking across situations
View Scale DetailsCalculated and Spontaneous Risk Taking Scale (CASPRT)
A 12-item measure of risk taking styles. This scale measured domain-general preferences for risk taking based on calculation vs. spontaneity
Status: In revision at Journal of Behavioral Decision Making
Selected Publications
Risk Taking Research
- Zhang, D.C., Barratt, C.L. & Smith, R.W. (2024). The Bright, Dark, and Grey Sides of Risk Takers at Work: Criterion Validity of Risk Propensity for Contextual Performance at Work. Journal of Business and Psychology (Editor's Commendation)
- Highhouse, S., Wang, Y. & Zhang, D.C. (2022). Is Risk Propensity Unique from the Big Five Factors of Personality? A Meta-Analytic Investigation. Journal of Research in Personality
- Zhang, D.C., Highhouse, S., & Nye. (2019), Development and validation of the general risk propensity scale (GRiPS). Journal of Behavioral Decision Making. 32(2), 152-167.
- Highhouse, S., Nye, C.D., & Zhang, D.C., Rada, T.B. (2017), Structure of the DOSPERT: Is there evidence for a general risk factor, Journal of Behavioral Decision Making. 30(2), 400-407.
Employee Selection Research
- Zhang, D.C. & Kausel, E.E., (2023). The illusion of validity: How effort inflates the perceived validity of interview questions. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology.
- Zhang, D.C. (2022). Duck-sized horses or horse-sized ducks? Oddall Personality Questions are likable (but useless) for organizational recruitment, Journal of Business and Psychology.
- Zhang, D.C. & Wang, Y. (2021) An empirical approach of identifying subject matter experts (SMEs) for the development of situational judgment tests. Journal of Personnel Psychology.
- Zhang, D.C., Highhouse, S., Brooks, M.E. & Zhang, Y. (2018), Communicating the validity of structured interviews with graphical visual aids. International Journal of Selection and Assessment. 26(2-4), 93-108. (Top 10 downloaded paper of 2018).
For a complete list of our publications, please see our Google Scholar profile or browse our publications page.