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Categorization and Hierarchy of Workplace Bullying Strategies: A Delphi Survey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2013

Álvaro Rodríguez-Carballeira ,
Jordi Escartín Solanelles ,
Bienvenido Visauta Vinacua ,
Clara Porrúa García  and
Javier Martín-Peña
Álvaro Rodríguez-Carballeira*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Barcelona (Spain)
Jordi Escartín Solanelles
Affiliation:
Universidad de Barcelona (Spain)
Bienvenido Visauta Vinacua
Affiliation:
Universidad de Barcelona (Spain)
Clara Porrúa García
Affiliation:
Universidad de Barcelona (Spain)
Javier Martín-Peña
Affiliation:
Universidad de Barcelona (Spain)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Álvaro Rodríguez-Carballeira. Departamento de Psicología Social. Universidad de Barcelona. Pg. Vall d'Hebron, 171. 08035 Barcelona. (Spain). Phone: +34-933125178. Fax: +34-934021366. E-mail: alvaro.rodriguez@ub.edu
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Abstract

This paper reports a study of the characteristics of psychological abuse strategies deployed in the workplace (mobbing or workplace bullying). Based on a literature review, the aim of the present study is two fold: firstly to propose a new taxonomy of mobbing strategies and to provide an operational definition for each of them, and secondly, to assess this taxonomy with the aid of several experts, by using a Delphi survey, and to evaluate the severity of each of the mobbing strategies. The experts were asked to evaluate the adequacy and the severity of the definitions for each mobbing strategy. Thirty experts working in various professions (psychology, medicine, law, sociology, etc.) participated in a two-round Delphi survey. The experts estimated that the new taxonomy and the operational definitions were appropriate, establishing content and construct validity. They ranked the workplace bullying strategies in terms of descending importance: strategies of direct nature, followed by indirect strategies. Theoretical implications of the study, its limitations and future research are discussed.

Este estudio psicosocial analiza las estrategias de abuso psicológico que se aplican en el lugar de trabajo (mobbing o bullying laboral). A partir de una revisión de la literatura científica, el primer objetivo pretende proponer una nueva clasificación de las estrategias del mobbing y dotar de una definición operativa a cada una de dichas estrategias. El segundo objetivo trata de evaluar esta clasificación y la severidad de las estrategias de mobbing a través del juicio de un panel de expertos utilizando para ello un estudio Delphi. Los expertos tuvieron que juzgar la adecuación de las estrategias y sus definiciones, y evaluar cuantitativamente la severidad de cada estrategia en el conjunto del mobbing. Treinta expertos de diferentes profesiones (psicólogos, médicos, abogados, sociólogos, etc.) participaron en el estudio Delphi de dos pasaciones. Los expertos juzgaron la nueva categorización y sus definiciones operativas como apropiadas estableciendo de este modo, validez de contenido y de constructo. Además, jerarquizaron las estrategias de mobbing resultando en su conjunto con mayor severidad las de naturaleza más directa, por encima de aquéllas más indirectas. Finalmente, se discuten los resultados y las limitaciones de esta investigación, así como las implicaciones teóricas y prácticas que pueden derivarse de ella.

Keywords

workplace bullyingmobbingworkplace violenceDelphi surveyseverityweighted scoresbullying laboralmobbingviolencia laboralmétodo Delphiseveridadpuntajes ponderados
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , May 2010 , pp. 297 - 308
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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