Potential Applications of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to Organizational Research: A Primer and Sample Study

Authors

Allen I. Huffcutt, Bradley UniversityFollow
Wen-Ching Liu, Saint Francis Medical CenterFollow
Lori A. Russell-Chapin, Bradley UniversityFollow

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25035/pad.2018.02.004

Abstract

The first purpose of this manuscript is to provide a primer for organizational researchers on both fMRI and brain physiology because few are likely to have encountered an in-depth treatment of either previously. The second purpose is to present the results of an actual fMRI study on an organizational topic (structured employment interviews) as a sample to help illustrate the potential of this type of research. Results of the sample study enhanced understanding of the brain processes behind responding to situational (SI) and behavior description (BDI) interviews, and offered several promising directions for follow-up research. To illustrate the latter, there appears to be separate region of the brain for handling complex social situations, which was activated only in the SI scans. This region could help explain the common use of the impression management tactic ingratiation in SIs. Given the emerging trend for larger universities to acquire fMRI equipment for research purposes, this type of research may be more viable then ever for organizational researchers.

Recommended Citation

Huffcutt, Allen I.; Liu, Wen-Ching; and Russell-Chapin, Lori A. (2018) "Potential Applications of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to Organizational Research: A Primer and Sample Study," Personnel Assessment and Decisions: Number 4 : Iss. 2 , Article 4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25035/pad.2018.02.004
Available at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/pad/vol4/iss2/4

Corresponding Author Information

Allen I Huffcutt

huffcutt@fsmail.bradley.edu

1501 W Bradley Ave Dept of Psychology Bradley University Peoria, IL 61625