國立中山大學人力資源管理全英語碩士學位學 程碩士論文 Master of Global Human Resource Management National Sun Yat-sen University Master Thesis 醫護人員對醫療工作迷信的看法：潛在效益與 隱憂之分析 How Do Medical Personnel Reflect on the Role and Importance of Superstitions in Nursing: An Analysis of the Potential Benefits and Concerns 研究生： 祈睿思 Christopher Ternosky 指導教授： 莫西大衛 博士 Dr. David McConville Dr. Kayode Odusanya 中華民國 108 年 3 月 March 2019 i ii 摘要 本研究使用質性研究設計，旨在探討台灣醫院員工在工作場所表現的醫療 迷信。台灣至今仍然存在久遠的迷信歷史與文化。其中，有些迷信是醫院環境特 有的現象，例如：許多醫院員工選擇避免吃鳳梨，擔心會導致工作量增加。雖然 曾經有研究探討台灣護理人員的醫療迷信，但是沒有任何其中之研究探討其他醫 院員工的迷信現象。本研究以先前的研究為基礎，增加更廣泛的醫院員工類別， 以半結構式對談方式對十五位台灣醫院的員工進行訪談。使用主題式分析方法分 析文本資料後，有幾項主題結果發現：包含社會壓力﹑群體思維與邏輯謬誤。主 題結果發現解釋了醫院員工如何產生迷信（參見 Womack, 1992 以及附件 I）。其 也顯示醫院員工會受到包含壓力﹑需求控制﹑幻化感受﹑認知失調與感到羞恥的 影響。本研究能幫助醫院護理人員﹑醫生或是醫院管理階層人員了解台灣普遍的 醫療迷信，與相關迷信思維的應用。 關鍵字：迷信﹑台灣護理人員﹑壓力﹑邏輯謬誤﹑社會壓力 iii Abstract This study qualitatively explores how Taiwanese hospital employees utilize superstitions in the workplace. Taiwan has a rich history and culture of superstitions that are still present today. Some of these superstitions are unique to the hospital setting. For example, many employees will avoid eating pineapple out of fear of increasing their busyness or workload. Previous research has looked at Taiwanese nurses, but none have considered superstitious use among other hospital workers. This study builds on previous research by including a broader range of hospital employees. After conducting fifteen semi-structured interviews, themes were identified from the data. Several themes emerged to exlpain how employees arrived at their superstitions [as defined by Womack, 1992. Also see Appendix A]. These include social pressure, groupthink, and logical fallacies. Regarding employee's perceptions of impact, key themes related to stress, the need for control, illusory pattern perception, cognitive dissonance, and shaming. This study may be useful for nurses, doctors and managers of hospital employees to (a) make sense of why superstitions seem to be so common in Taiwanese hospitals and (b) the possible implications of these superstitious beliefs. Key words: superstition, Taiwanese nurses, stress, logical fallacies, social pressure iv Table of Contents Thesis Validation Letter.....................................................................................................i Thesis Authorization Letter...............................................................................................ii 摘要..................................................................................................................................iii Abstract.............................................................................................................................iv Table of Tables................................................................................................................viii CHAPTER I. Thesis Introduction......................................................................................1 Summary: Research Aims and Methods................................................................2 Thesis Structure.....................................................................................................3 CHAPTER II. Literature Review.......................................................................................3 Introduction............................................................................................................3 The Definition of Superstition...............................................................................4 Superstition and the Brain.....................................................................................5 Taiwan and Superstitions.......................................................................................6 Superstition in Nursing..........................................................................................7 Superstition Among Taiwanese Nurses.................................................................8 Literature Review Summary................................................................................10 CHAPTER III. Research Methodology...........................................................................11 Introduction..........................................................................................................11 Research Methodology Approach........................................................................12 Question Design...................................................................................................13 Data Collection....................................................................................................14 Reliability and Validity........................................................................................15 Ethics...................................................................................................................16 CHAPTER IV. Findings and Discussion........................................................................17 v Introduction..........................................................................................................17 Coding..................................................................................................................18 Content.................................................................................................................20 Social Pressure.........................................................................................21 The Need for Certainty.............................................................................22 Logical Fallacies......................................................................................24 Argument From Authority........................................................................24 Bandwagon..............................................................................................25 Emotional Appeal.....................................................................................27 Correlation vs. Causation / False Cause..................................................28 Failing Occam's Razor.............................................................................29 Anecdotal.................................................................................................29 Groupthink...............................................................................................30 The Placebo Effect...................................................................................34 Operant Conditioning...............................................................................35 Stress and the Need for Control...............................................................36 Stress and Superstition.............................................................................37 Stress and Nursing...................................................................................37 Negative Impact on Illusory Pattern Perception......................................38 Cognitive Dissonance..............................................................................41 Shaming...................................................................................................44 Skeptics....................................................................................................45 Summary..............................................................................................................48 CHAPTER V. Conclusions..............................................................................................49 Limitations of this Research................................................................................51 vi Language Barrier.................................................................................................51 Familiarity with the Superstitions........................................................................52 Limited to Taiwanese Medical Training..............................................................52 Researcher Bias...................................................................................................53 No Neurological Observations............................................................................53 Practical Implcations...........................................................................................53 Suggestions for Future Research.........................................................................55 References.......................................................................................................................57 Appendices......................................................................................................................69 vii Table of Tables Table 1. Cause and Effect Relationship Evidence of Superstitions in Taiwanese Hositals Appendix A Table 2. Extract from Appendix H Nurse 3 Transcription Page 19 viii CHAPTER I. Thesis Introduction Superstitions are beliefs that span across cultures throughout history, and are still very much prelevant today. Superstitious belief is quite common in Taiwanese culture. There are a wide range of such beliefs that can be seen in daily life around the country. Superstitions range from the significance of the color red to tetraphobia (the avoidance of the number 4). The cultural impact of superstitions is significant. For example, around Chinese New Year the color red will be seen across the country in cities, shops, streets and most public places. The prominence of superstitions also have an economic impact on the society. Businesses often do not make any large property