Peeling Away the Layers of Workplace Gossip: A Framework, Review, and Future Research Agenda to Study Workplace Gossip as a Dynamic and Complex Behavior
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Conceptualizing Workplace Gossip as a Multilayer Social Phenomenon
2.1. Granularity of Workplace Gossip
2.1.1. Gossip Events
2.1.2. Gossip Episodes
2.1.3. Gossip Conversations
2.1.4. Accumulated Gossip
2.2. Layers of Workplace Gossip
2.2.1. Organizational Layer
2.2.2. Interpersonal Layer—Dyads and Groups
2.2.3. Individual Layer
2.2.4. Adding Another Layer: The Conversational Layer
2.3. The Core: Gossiping Characteristics
3. Methods
4. Review Findings
4.1. Captured Granularity of Workplace Gossip in Previous Studies
4.2. Captured Layers of Workplace Gossip in Previous Studies
5. Future Research Agenda
5.1. Rethinking the Sender-Receiver Perspective
5.2. Contextualizing Workplace Gossiping
5.2.1. Distinguishing Different Conversational Contexts
5.2.2. Recognizing (Remote) Work Trends and Its Influence on Workplace Gossip
5.2.3. Operationalizing Workplace Gossip as an Interpersonal Behavior
5.2.4. Addressing Interdependencies between Gossip Characteristics and Its Layers
5.3. Capturing the Dynamism and Process of Workplace Gossiping
5.3.1. Using More Direct Measures of Gossiping Behavior
5.3.2. Applying Interaction Coding to Uncover Granular Processes of Gossiping
5.3.3. Leveraging (Semi-)Automated Analytical Methods
6. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Methodology | % | Examples |
---|---|---|
Gossip level | ||
Specific | 25.90 | |
Events | 1.43 | [25] |
Episodes | 0.72 | |
Conversation | 24.46 | [49] |
Unspecific | ||
Aggregated gossip (past) | 53.24 | [50] |
Aggregated gossip (general) | 27.34 | [51] |
Unclear | 1.43 | [52] |
Time reference | ||
In situ | 4.32 | [25] |
Fictional (scenario-based) | 12.95 | [15,17] |
Past (past year–past day) | 58.99 | [53,54] |
General | 24.46 | [16,55] |
Unclear | 4.32 | [52] |
Gossip layers | ||
Gossip characteristics | 48.20 | |
Valence (pos vs. neg) | 33.09 | [56] |
Content | 12.23 | [57] |
Functions | 15.83 | [7] |
Other | 5.04 | [35] |
Conversational layer | 20.86 | |
Mode specified | 17.99 | [24] |
Setting specified | 18.71 | [15,34] |
Individual layer | 82.01 | [58] |
Interpersonal layer | 55.40 | |
Dyadic | 34.53 | [59] |
Group | 35.25 | [14] |
Organizational layer | 23.02 | [60] |
Conceptualized valence of WG | ||
Positive and negative | 81.29 | [1,61] |
Only negative | 1.43 | [62] |
Not specified | 17.27 | [57,63] |
Operationalized valence of WG | ||
Positive and negative | 37.41 | [14,64] |
Only negative | 40.29 | [58,65] |
Only positive | 2.88 | [66] |
Not specified | 19.42 | [47] |
Analytical approach | ||
Quantitative | 82.73 | [67] |
Network analysis | 5.04 | [68] |
Qualitative | 10.79 | [24] |
Mix | 1.43 | [35] |
Study design | ||
Cross-sectional | 28.06 | [69,70] |
Time-lagged | 43.88 | [71,72] |
Longitudinal | 11.51 | [26,60] |
Experimental | 16.55 | [73] |
Operationalization of WG | ||
Survey | 76.26 | [74,75] |
Interview | 7.91 | [76,77] |
Scenarios | 12.95 | [15,78] |
Critical Incident Technique | 7.91 | [46,79] |
Video recordings | 1.43 | [25,80] |
Other ethnographic sources | 3.60 | [81,82] |
WG variable in research model | ||
IV | 61.87 | [83,84] |
DV | 23.02 | [43,44] |
Moderator | 6.47 | [59,65] |
Mediator | 2.16 | [51,85] |
Focus on gossip only | 12.23 | [57,82] |
Focus triad | ||
Sender | 40.29 | [7,53] |
Receiver | 9.35 | [46,54] |
Target | 29.50 | [58,71] |
Outside observer | 2.16 | [15,76] |
Mix/Unclear | 18.71 | [57,63] |
Analysis | Gossip Granularity | Gossip Layers | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quantitative | Network analysis | Qualitative | Mix | Event | Episode | Conversation | Aggregated (past) | Aggregated (general) | Unclear | Gossip characteristics | Valence | Content | Other | Functions | Conversational | Mode | Setting | Individual | Interpersonal | Dyadic | Group | Organizational | |
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Begemann, V.; Lehmann-Willenbrock, N.; Stein, M. Peeling Away the Layers of Workplace Gossip: A Framework, Review, and Future Research Agenda to Study Workplace Gossip as a Dynamic and Complex Behavior. Merits 2023, 3, 297-317. https://doi.org/10.3390/merits3020017
Begemann V, Lehmann-Willenbrock N, Stein M. Peeling Away the Layers of Workplace Gossip: A Framework, Review, and Future Research Agenda to Study Workplace Gossip as a Dynamic and Complex Behavior. Merits. 2023; 3(2):297-317. https://doi.org/10.3390/merits3020017
Chicago/Turabian StyleBegemann, Vanessa, Nale Lehmann-Willenbrock, and Maie Stein. 2023. "Peeling Away the Layers of Workplace Gossip: A Framework, Review, and Future Research Agenda to Study Workplace Gossip as a Dynamic and Complex Behavior" Merits 3, no. 2: 297-317. https://doi.org/10.3390/merits3020017