Some Social Factors Related to Performance in a Research Organization

Abstract

Relations between the social environment provided by the organization and the performance of medical researchers are reported in this article. The study was conducted in a large governmental organization devoted to medical research. Results indicate that scientists tend to perform more acceptably when they are closely associated with colleagues having a variety of values, experiences, and disciplines and when supervisors provide frequent stimulation combined with autonomy of action. The author is study director at the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan.