Rellie Derfler-Rozin Directory Page

Rellie Derfler-Rozin

Rellie Derfler-Rozin

Associate Professor

Associate Editor, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes

Academic Director, Master in Management Studies (MiM) and Online Master in Management Studies (OMiM)

Ph.D., London Business School


Rellie Derfler-Rozin is an Associate Professor of Management & Organization at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. She received her PhD in Organizational Behavior from London Business School.

She studies how the social context impacts employees' decision-making. She examines situations in which people in organizational settings behave in ways that end up counter to their own goal, because of innate social needs, such as the need to belong or the need for social status. As such, she applies psychological theories to critical organizational challenges (e.g., how organizations should design their selection practices or structure employees' jobs) to seek solutions that improve employees' lives in the workplace and organizations' success. She uses a multi-method approach, combining field surveys, field experiments, laboratory experiments and archival data analysis. Most of her research revolves around two specific areas: behavioral ethics and selection decisions and biases. 

Primary Research Areas

  • behavioral ethics
  • selection decision and biases
  • belongingness needs
  • emotions 

Selected Publications

Derfler-Rozin, R., Isaakyan, S, & Park, H. Swiftly Judging Whom to Bring On Board: How Person Perception (Accurate or Not) Influences Selection of Prospective Team Members. In press, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes

Wee, E., Derfler-Rozin, R., & Marr, J. Jolted: How Task-Based Jolts Disrupt Status Conferral by Impacting Higher- and Lower-Status Individuals’ Generosity. In press , Journal of Applied Psychology

Derfler-Rozin, R., Sherf, E. N., & Chen, G. (2021). To be or not to be consistent? The role of friendship and group-targeted perspective in managers' allocation decisions. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 42(6), 814-833.

Derfler-Rozin, R., & Pitesa, M. (2020) Motivation Purity Bias: Expression of Extrinsic Motivation Undermines Perceived Intrinsic Motivation and Engenders Bias in Selection Decisions. Academy of Management Journal, 63(6), 1840-1864.

Liu, X., Liao, H., Derfler-Rozin, R., Zhang, X., Qin, F., & Wee, E. (2020) In Line and Out of the Box: How Ethical Leaders Help Offset the Negative Effect of Morality on Creativity. Journal of Applied Psychology, 105(12), 1447-1465

He, T., Derfler-Rozin, R., & Pitesa, M. (2020) Financial Vulnerability and the Reproduction of Disadvantage in Economic Exchanges. Journal of Applied Psychology, 105(1), 80-96.

Baker, B., Derfler-Rozin, R., Pitesa, M., & Johnson, M. Economic Consequences of Unethical Behavior: Organization Science, 30(2), 235-445.

Derfler-Rozin, R., Baker, B., & Gino, F. (2018). Compromised Ethics in Hiring Processes? How Referrers’ Power Affects Employees’ Reactions to Referral Practices. Academy of Management Journal, 61(2), 615-636.

Derfler-Rozin, R., Moore, C., & Staats, B. (2016) Reducing Organizational Rule Breaking through Task Variety: How Task Design Supports Deliberative Thinking. Organization Science, 27(6), 1361-1379.

Thau, S., Derfler-Rozin, R., Pitesa, M., Mitchell, M., & Pillutla, M. (2015) Unethical for the sake of the group: Risk of exclusion and pro-group unethical behavior. Journal of Applied Psychology, 100(1), 98-113.

Rafaeli, A., Erez, A., Ravid, S., Derfler-Rozin, R., Efrat, D., & Rozilio, R. (2012). When customers exhibit verbal aggression employees pay the cognitive costs. Journal of Applied Psychology, 97(5), 931-950

Derfler-Rozin, R., Pillutla, M., & Thau, S. (2010). Social reconnection revisited: The effects of social exclusion risk on reciprocity, trust, and general risk-taking. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 112(2), 140-150

Rafaeli, A., Sagy, Y., & Derfler-Rozin, R. (2008). Logos and initial compliance: A strong case of mindless trust. Organization Science, 19(6), 845-859

Media Contributions

TEDx – Correcting the misconception about job candidates' motivation

WNYC (New York Public Radio) The Brian Lehrer Show – Feb. 24, 2022 - “Managers Are Less Likely to Hire People Who Ask About Salary. Will NYC’s New Wage Law Help?” 

News

It’s All About the Experience

Reimagining Learning With a Focus on Experiential Opportunities

Read News Story : It’s All About the Experience
MiM Program Closes Successful Year with Student Project Showcase

There’s a reason corporate and non-profit organizations turn to student teams at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of…

Read News Story : MiM Program Closes Successful Year with Student Project Showcase
Smith Launches Online Master of Science in Management Studies (OMiM)
The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business is launching a new master’s program ideal for recent graduates from any…
Read News Story : Smith Launches Online Master of Science in Management Studies (OMiM)

Research

How To Make Rule-Followers Think Outside the Box

How Ethical Leaders Give Employees Space to Be Creative

Read the article : How To Make Rule-Followers Think Outside the Box
Love Your Work and Your Paycheck, Too? Don’t Tell the Hiring Manager

Research Finds Bias Against Job Candidates Motivated By Pay, Benefits

Read the article : Love Your Work and Your Paycheck, Too? Don’t Tell the Hiring Manager
Who's the Worst at Negotiating?

How Better Give-and-Take Can Improve Socioeconomic Status

Read the article : Who's the Worst at Negotiating?

Insights

Smith Experts Offer Tips to Bring to the Negotiating Table in the Wake of Labor Strikes

Read the article : Smith Experts Offer Tips to Bring to the Negotiating Table in the Wake of Labor Strikes
The Question You Should Never Ask In a Job Interview

Read the article : The Question You Should Never Ask In a Job Interview
How to Ask for What You Want Before Taking a Job

Read the article : How to Ask for What You Want Before Taking a Job
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