False positives and false negatives in workplace bullying (June 2009)
06-Aug-2010There has been some mention in the media recently about ‘false positives’ in relation to the reporting of workplace bullying.
In other words, there are claims that in some cases workplace bullying has been reported when in fact it did not happen.
As well, we know that workplace bullying can be under-reported when it has happened. In other words in some cases it is simply not reported. When this happens, people often deal with the issue by leaving their job.
When workplace bullying has been denied as having happened when it has happened we may call it ‘false negative’ reporting.
We may compare this with the use of diagnostic testing in medicine. Say we are looking at a particular disease and the testing that is used in relation to it.
At any point, a person may or may not have the disease.
The testing may indicate that the person has the disease when they do. The testing has been accurate.
The testing may indicate that the person has the disease when in fact they do not have it. The testing has indicated a false positive. The test has indicated that the disease is present when it, in fact, is not.
The testing may show that the disease is not present when in fact it is. This is a false negative result. The person has the disease but the test indicates that they do not have it.
Or…the testing may show that the person does not have the disease when in fact they do not. The test in this case is accurate.
The potential for false positives does not mean that the disease does not exist. So too with workplace bullying. Just because people could report workplace bullying when it is not happening does not mean that it should be dismissed as though it couldn’t happen.
The important thing is to have clarity about what specific entity we are screening for and to have and apply effective and efficient tools with good predictive value.
It is early days with respect to the OHS problem of workplace bullying and the predictive and diagnostic tools are yet to be refined.
Comment