“担当”还是“避责”?感知问责对公务员工作行为的双刃剑效应研究

“Taking Charge” or “Blame Avoidance”?A Research about the Double-edged Sword Effect of FeltAccountability on Civil Servants ’ Work Behavior

完善的问责制度是建设责任政府和实现国家善治的关键要素和重要标志,宏观层面问责制度设计需要微观层面个体有效感知方能实现制度效用最大化,然而目前有关公务员感知问责及其对工作行为的具体影响机制研究却相对匮乏。因此,基于压力交互理论,构建“压力感知—个体评估—内隐情绪—外显行为”四维理论分析框架,并通过实验研究和问卷调查讨论公务员感知问责对担当作为和避责行为的具体作用机制。研究一采用情景实验,结果表明感知问责对个体工作行为发挥双刃剑效应,既能够激励个体担当作为,亦能够诱发个体避责行为。研究二采用问卷调查,通过对分阶段收集的数据进行分析,结果显示感知问责通过挑战评估激发积极情绪进而激励个体担当作为,此外,感知问责还能通过威胁评估助长消极情绪从而诱发个体避责行为。

A mature accountability system is the key element and important symbol of building a responsible government and achieving good governance.The design of the accountability system at the macro level requires the effective perception of individuals at the micro level to maximize the effectiveness of the system.However,the study about the felt accountability and the effects on work behavior of civil servants is quite few.Therefore,based on the transactional stress theory,this paper constructs a four-dimensional theoretical analysis framework of“stress perception—individual appraisal—implicit emotion—explicit behavior”,and discusses the specific mechanism of civil servants’felt accountability on taking charge and blame avoidance through two studies.Study 1 adopted a survey experiment,and the results showed that felt accountability had a double-edged sword effect on individual work behavior,it could not only stimulate individuals taking charge,but also induce individuals blame avoidance.In study 2,a questionnaire survey was used,the results showed that felt accountability stimulated positive emotions through challenge appraisal and then encouraged individuals to take charge.In addition,felt accountability could also encourage negative emotions through threat appraisal and thus induce individuals to avoid blame.