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Research

 

Research Focus

One focus of our research is on networking behavior in organizations, i.e., the establishment, maintenance, and utilization of social relationships in the professional environment. The focus is on the consequences of networking for both individuals and organizations. In the pursuit of a balanced perspective, we investigate both positive consequences, such as career success, and negative consequences, such as conflicts with non-professional roles ("Work-Life Balance"). Additionally, we explore determinants of networking in terms of facilitating or hindering aspects, such as personality traits. Our research is based on career, gender, and power theoretical perspectives.

Another focus is on investment decisions, particularly the commitment to goals signaled by decisions. On one hand, commitment promotes goal-oriented behavior and the likelihood of goal achievement. On the other hand, commitment can lead to persistence and subsequent investments, even when negative feedback suggests discontinuing the project. Our research focuses not only on psychological and situational determinants but also on underlying cognitive processes that allow, for example, the development of intervention measures and an assessment of the rationality of behavior. Moreover, the evolving dynamics of processes over repeated decisions play a central role in our research.

Further projects of our group address interindividual differences in everyday decision-making. The focus is on the personality construct of maximizing, which describes the extent to which people invest too much effort in their decisions. The construct is associated with decision difficulty and experienced regret, and has in the past been discussed as a possible determinant of psychopathological symptoms such as anxiety, depression, or rumination. At the core of our projects is the measurement of the maximizing construct (via self-report and information-seeking paradigms) as well as its assessment in everyday life through diary studies.

 

Current projects

 

The goal is to identify various strategies in online networking and potential influencing factors such as gender, digital skills, and self-efficacy. In addition, recommendations will be formulated on how online networking can be successfully utilized. The aim is to support individuals in actively shaping their careers in a digitized work environment based on evidence.

Digi_Net II (2025–2026)

Digi_Net II – “Entering the Workforce after Graduation: The Role of Digital Networks and Labor Market Inclusion” explores the role of professional social networking sites (PNS) in the transition from university to the labor market — with a specific focus on relatively vulnerable student groups. The project is closely aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 8 (decent work and economic growth) and Goal 10 (reduced inequalities), and thus contributes to shaping inclusive and equitable digital labor markets. Relatively vulnerable groups include, for example, women, individuals with a migration background, first-generation students, and those with low socioeconomic status, as well as people who may experience discrimination or disadvantage based on religion, illness, or sexual orientation. In addition to such demographic characteristics, the project also takes psychological aspects into account—such as perceived stigmatization or limited resources. The main question is whether PNS reinforce existing inequalities in the labor market - for example, by stereotypical evaluations based on profile pictures — or whether they can help promote equal opportunities. Adopting an intersectional perspective, the project systematically analyzes multiple dimensions of disadvantage. The research is based on a longitudinal quantitative study that follows university graduates over several months during their transition into the workforce, collecting repeated survey data. This project is also funded by the RheinEnergie Stiftung Jugend, Beruf, Wissenschaft, and its findings are disseminated to the public through an advisory board, podcasts, and workshops.

Research Team:

  • UoC: Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Wolff, Elian Hemes
  • TH Köln: Prof. Dr. Ivonne Preusser, Nils Rottgardt

  see also our Podcast

MaxiWell (funded by C-SEB & RheinEnergie Stiftung)

In the research project MaxiWell (2026), we investigate how personality traits shape everyday decision-making. Our focus is on the personality construct of maximizing, which captures the degree to which people strive for the best possible option and invest excessive effort in doing so. Using a daily diary design, we examine how maximizers make decisions (e.g., how many options they consider), how they experience them (e.g., perceived decision difficulty), and what affective consequences follow (e.g., experienced regret). In addition, we test the relevance of maximizing above and beyond the Big Five. The study offers important insights into the validity of maximizing and provides first indications of how it may contribute to the development of psychological well-being.

Research Team:

  • UoC: Mira Hertel, Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Wolff
  • University of Maryland: Nathan N. Cheek
  • Colgate University: Rebecca Shiner

Further Projects

  • Corporate Social Responsibility and employer attractiveness
  • Workplace bullying, focusing on victim personality
  • Digi_Net I (2023-2025)

 

 

Team