Publication Date
2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Committee Members
Debra Steele-Johnson, Ph.D. (Advisor); David LaHuis, Ph.D. (Committee Member); Scott Watamaniuk, Ph.D. (Committee Member); Valerie Shalin, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Abstract
Global events such as globalization, technological advancements, and fundamentally new methods for completing work are contributing factors to the mass migration of employees from in-person to more remote work modalities. Researchers have found evidence for advantages (e.g., autonomy) and disadvantages (i.e., lack of teamwork) for employees in more remote modalities. However, there are critical gaps in the literature including a lack of clear definitions, assessments, taxonomies, and application of well-established theories. Beyond focusing on the physical aspects of remote work, I proposed a new concept, degree of remoteness, to capture the psychological experience of working remotely. Further, I proposed that there are important individual, physical, and social factors that influence degree of remoteness. I found that time removed from a central office is not an adequate assessment of the complexity of remote work, and I found preliminary evidence suggesting that there are complex interactions between physical and individual factors that influence degree of remoteness. Researchers now have a theoretical framework to study the interactive effects that influence an employee’s psychological experience in more remote settings, and researchers can apply well-established theories to further refine the degree of remoteness concept.
Page Count
164
Department or Program
Department of Psychology
Year Degree Awarded
2025
Copyright
Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. My ETD will be available under the "Fair Use" terms of copyright law.
