A meta-analytic review of situational constraints and work-related outcomes: Alternative approaches to conceptualization

Abstract

This article reviews current conceptualizations of constraints and reports the results of a quantitative review of published research on situational constraints. The results of the meta-analysis are consistent with those of previous reviews that used a traditional narrative review method; constraint scores bear a weak relationship with performance measures (−.14) and a fairly robust relationship with self-reported affect (−.32 with satisfaction, .39 with frustration). It is concluded that this weak pattern of findings suggests the need for alternative conceptualizations of constraints. Toward that end, a variety of conceptual framing schemes from which to generate alternative measurements of constraints and hypotheses about constraint-outcome relationships are presented.