“Empathic-Dynamics” Mindset Intervention for Workplaces

Page Contents

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Research Question
Approach
Findings
Original Stimuli
Presentations
Code Sample

Question

Can employee mindsets and relationships be improved with a novel mindset intervention?

Approach

I conducted a mixed-methods research project to examine this question.

Step I — Qualitative Data

I first conducted focus groups with individuals from the population (university employees) to learn about their interpersonal challenges.

Themes were pulled from the focus groups and used in Step II.

Step II

I designed a novel online mindset intervention called “empathic-dynamics” to promote employees approach to handling interpersonal situations at work.

Step III — Quantitative Data

I then launched the intervention study in 8 on-campus divisions to test the impact. I also measured whether changes from the intervention stuck for 1 week after.

Below are the focus group themes, with an illustrative quote from a participant.

Lasting Effects

I found that people who received the empathic-dynamics intervention actually changed their behavior and engaged in more perspective-taking at work!

Immediate Effects

I found that the empathic-dynamics intervention improved participants mindsets about workplace relationships and promoted perspective-taking at work.

Findings

Original Stimuli

Below are a selection of materials used in the empathic-dynamics (treatment) condition of the intervention.

Presentation

I presented findings from this study with the poster below at a conference in February 2025.

I presented findings from this study to members of the Institute of Personality and Social Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley with the slides below.

R Code

The project Executive Summary was created with R / Quarto and shared with funders and stakeholders.

All R code for this project can be found on my GitHub.