TRANSFERENCE IN ORGANIZATIONAL RESEARCH

Organization members decide to participate in research in reaction to a researcher's approach on the basis of their conscious and unconsciou s assumptions about him. This article draws from the author's work to look at how people react to a researcher's request to study them. A ps ychoanalytic perspective focuses on how members unconsciously engage i n transference toward the researcher in deciding whether to participat e. Many who make negative assumptions about him are involved in confli ct and they identify him with organizational authority that will punis h disloyalty. Many who make positive assumptions about the researcher believe that what they do is of potential value and identify him with themselves or someone who will care about and appreciate them.