عوامل فردی، شخصیت و ادراک: قانون‌گذاران چگونه تصمیم می‌گیرند؟ مقاله

بررسی علمی رفتار نمایندگان در انجام امور نمایندگی ازجمله قانون‌گذاری اهمیت بسزایی دارد. ادراک نمایندگان در فرایند پیچیدة قانون‌گذاری، نقش مؤثری ایفا می‌کند. هدف پژوهش حاضر، شناسایی نقش عوامل فردی بر ادراک نمایندگان در فرایند تصویب قوانین با اتخاذ رویکردی رفتاری است. برای انجام پژوهش، از روش نظریة داده‌بنیان بهره گرفته شد. نمونه‌گیری با بهره‌گیری از روش قضاوتی با منطق نمونه‌گیری نظری انجام گرفت و تا حصول اشباع نظری دنبال شد. درمجموع، با 22 نمایندة مجلس مصاحبة نیمه‌ساختاریافته انجام شد و اسناد مکتوبی همچون مشروح مذاکرات نیز تجزیه‌وتحلیل شد. مقولات حاصل‌شده طی فرایند کدگذاری به یکدیگر مرتبط شدند و 5 قضیه به دست‌ آمد. تحلیل داده‌ها مبیّن آن بود که عوامل فردی مؤثر بر ادراک نمایندگان شامل شخصیت، تحصیلات، احساسات و هیجان‌ها، سابقه و منافع شخصی است. ادراک نیز به‌عنوان مقولة محوری پژوهش تعیین شد که خود از دو زیرمقولة شناخت مستقیم و شناخت غیرمستقیم و سه مفهوم معناسازی، معنابخشی و معناشکنی تشکیل شده است. یافته‌های پژوهش حاضر آگاهی نمایندگان مجلس از فرایندهای ادراکی‌شان را افزایش می‌دهد و به آنها یادآوری می‌کند که عوامل متعددی بر ادراک آنها به‌صورت آگاهانه یا ناخودآگاهانه تأثیر می‌گذارد؛ بنابراین، شناخت این عوامل توسط قانون‌گذاران می‌تواند به افزایش کیفیت قانون‌گذاری منجر شود.

Concerning the legislative role of members of parliament in Iran, the present paper aimed to identify factors affecting their perception during passing laws through a behavioral approach. Sampling was carried out via judgmental method and was continued till reaching saturation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parliament member. The answers to interview questions in addition to documents such as negotiation proceedings were analyzed. Employing grounded theory, codes, concepts and categories were obtained as a result of data analysis. Five propositions were obtained after linking three categories at selective coding stage. Data analysis found personality, education, experience, personal feelings, emotions and feelings as individual factors affecting perception of MPs. Perceptions, the main category of research consists of direct and indirect perception as two subcategories and sense making, sense breaking, and sense giving as its concepts. Introduction * Studies regarding perception of MPs (members of parliament) could be divided into several categories; however, they are not sufficient. In one group, the legislative process is described by MPs at individual and collective level through distinct steps. Cognitive and perceptual dimensions of each step are discusses (Slembeck, 2016). In second group, value systems are mentioned as key factors affecting the perception of the political elite while analyzing environment. In relevant studies, there is no emphasis on the decision-making process and its step-by-step analysis (e.g. Brosch & Sander, 2013). In third group, system and process approaches were used simultaneously. In these works, both top-down and bottom-up processes such as political pressures, interpersonal issues, personality and genetics have been examined at the same time (Jost et al., 2016). In another group of research, subjective frameworks and decision-making styles of MPs from various parties in developed countries namely the United States, Britain, and Germany have been investigated (e.g. Rokeach, 2006; Altemeyer, 1998; Duckitt, 2001). Members of parliament are largely unaware of the effect of their cognitive characteristics on their decisions. If MPs are aware of factors affecting their perception, they might avoid biases and decision-making errors. This could reduce their severity as well. Thanks to the significance of the aforementioned issue the present study attempts to identify individual and personality variables affecting the perception of MPs during the legislative process. Methodology Grounded theory is a qualitative research method aiming to develop a theory based on data. The classical method of grounded theory has been used in present research due to the lack of a codified model for factors affecting the perception of MPs during legislative process. In order to collect data, the researcher employed semi-structured interviews and archived data such as recorded parliament sessions. Using theoretical and judgmental sampling, a number of participants were selected for the study. Research sample size was finalized based on the principle of theoretical saturation. In this study, theoretical saturation was achieved by interviewing 22 MPs and analyzing the recordings of sessions in detail. Findings There are three stages of open, selective, and theoretical coding in classical grounded theory. Fifty-five categories were obtained in open coding stage. Ten concepts emerged subsequently. In selective coding stage, the perception of the MPs was considered as the central category around which the data were organized. Finally, three categories were obtained: perception, individual factors and legislation. The central category of perception consisted of direct perception like sense making and indirect perception such as sense giving or sense breaking. Individual factors consisted of the following concepts: personality, education, background, personal interests, feelings and emotions. Legislation entails approving plans and bills. At theoretical coding stage, the relationships between categories are conceptualized. Perception is the central category for this study. By analyzing narratives and stories of interviewees, it was clarified that MPs analyze and perceive events, bills and plans in two ways: They gain perception about a bill or plan either directly through studying documents and reports or indirectly through attending meetings of the commissions or fractions and listening to their colleagues’ opinion. Using the literature on perception, they were introduced to the topics of sense making, sense giving, and sense breaking, which, were placed under subcategories of direct and indirect perception. Direct perception: All the attempts of MPs to perceive environmental events and laws in the process of passing laws are considered as sense making. Indirect perception: Observations showed that some MPs in different sessions try to destroy the meaning and perception of a bill or plan in the minds of other MPs by using discourses, narratives, stories and arguments (sense breaking) or presenting different arguments. They try to communicate their own meaning (sense giving) and create a new perception in minds of MPs. Individual factors Much evidence showed the influence of individual factors on the perception of MPs while conducting the present study. Results showed that individual factors are composed of the following concepts: personality, education, feelings and emotions, background and personal interests. Personality: The personality of MPs has a considerable effect on their sense making, sense giving, and sense breaking in the process of passing laws as well as comprehension of topics discussed in parliament and commissions. The personality of MPs was evaluated based on dimensions of Big Five Personality Traits model including extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness to experience, and emotional stability (Robbins & Judge, 2017). Some of MPs were extroverts interacting with so many MPs. This group of MPs spoke frequently about their experiences and how they influenced others with their words about a bill or an act. Some MPs admitted that they have repeatedly tried to persuade other MPs with agreeable personalities. Some MPs were highly conscientious. They examined all bills and plans carefully. They claimed that they never voted for any bills or plans without having sufficient information. Their perceptions of bills or plans differed due to the amount of time they spent on each bill or act. Openness to experience was another dimension of the personality of MPs affecting perceptions. Some MPs mentioned issues concerning art and literature in their statements. They talked about performances of politicians and the structure of parliament in other countries openly. These MPs exhibited more openness than other MPs who had traditional or local perspectives or descriptions limited to their own electoral constituency. Individuals with low emotional stability reacted quickly and were more sensitive to performances of other MPs. Those who get low scores in this dimension are typically nervous, anxious and impulsive. MPs with low emotional stability would take a stand against the statements of other MPs in examining plans and bills. The other group of MPs on the contrary were calm and in no hurry to answer other MPs during sessions of the commissions. Education: MPs’ level of education affects their attention. Those who have studied medicine, agriculture, civil engineering or sociology do not share the same concerns. They examine the bills and plans relevant to their own field of study more carefully. Feelings and Emotions: The mood of an MP while examining or commenting on a plan or bill affects their perception. Analysis of parliament sessions indicated that when examining a bill is postponed to subsequent session of commission, the behavior and reactions of some MPs change. During the interval between the sessions, MPs may study the issue or have conversations with other people which could influence their studies (sense making) or attitudes (sense breaking and sense giving). Background: The background of MPs could have an effective role in their perception. Those who have been MPs for several terms have a different perception than those who have become MPs for the first time. The alignment of an individual’s career background with their commission could also affects his perception of the plans and bills. Personal interests: Many MPs believed that their colleagues are concerned with their personal interests. They explained that as soon as their colleagues become MPs, they begin planning for participation in the next elections and their main aim is to secure a seat in the parliament in subsequent terms. Discussion and conclusion Results of the present research showed that individual factors affecting the perception of MPs include personality, education, background, personal interests, feelings and emotions. Perception was considered the central category of the present research, which consists of the two subcategories of direct and indirect perception. In previous studies, a number of factors affecting perception in general or perception of politicians and MPs in particular have been mentioned. Value systems, personality, and cognitive biases are among key factors found in foreign research (e.g. Brosch & Sander, 2013; Slembeck, 2016; and Altemeyer, 1998). However, as far as literature shows, no similar study has been conducted on the effect of the aforementioned five variables on the perception of MPs in Iranian parliament. The present research faced a number of limitations. First, it was difficult to reach MPs. Second, MPs interviewed were all male. Third the statistical community of the research consisted of MPs of the Iranian parliament. Fourth, Selecting MPs was conducted using the judgmental method and finally participants were only 22 people. Future researchers can investigate factors mentioned in this research independently. It is recommended that future researchers examine perceptions of other politicians and managers and study factors affecting perception of individuals such as city council members, ministers and CEOs. * Corresponding author