Biography

Professional Background

Having grown up in Germany, I did my undergraduate studies in Psychology at the University of Erfurt, focusing on Work and Organisational Psychology. I have always believed in the importance of practical experience to consolidate and broaden my theoretical knowledge, so I completed a number of work placements during and after my Bachelor studies, both in Germany and in other European countries:

• Ford Motor Company (HR department, Bordeaux/France)
• Factx Institute for Market Research (Cologne/Germany)
• Municipal Utilities of Erfurt (HR department, Germany) – I did the research for my Bachelor thesis here
• Saville Consulting, Psychometrics Consultancy (Research & Development Department, Claygate/UK)
• UTi Spain & Portugal (HR department, Madrid/Spain)
• T-Mobile (Personnel and Organisational Development Department, Bonn/Germany)

I went on to complete an MSc in Occupational & Organisational Psychology at the University of Surrey. Whilst studying, I worked part-time as a Research Psychologist for Saville Consulting and I continued to work there full-time when the MSc finished in 2008. My main responsibilities were: data analysis, managing client projects, localisation of norms, helping with the creation of new and refinement of existing psychometric measures, tutoring on training courses, recruitment.

In 2009, I decided that I hadn’t had enough of studying, so I applied for a PhD at the University of Surrey, which started in October that same year. I am still working for Saville Consulting, in a role that allows me to fit this around my study commitments.

Personal Background

My background is mixed; I am half German, half French and grew up in Germany, in the region around Cologne. I like learning more about my own and other cultures and their people, which is one of the reasons why I have worked in other countries and why I decided to include a cross-cultural component in my doctoral research.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, spending time with friends/family, cooking, sports and travelling.

Research Interests

PhD in Occupational Psychology

I am currently studying towards a PhD in Occupational Psychology. The research I undertake is interdisciplinary, which, in my case, means that I will look at it both from a psychology and management perspective. My supervisors are Dr Almuth McDowall from the Department of Psychology and Prof Mark Saunders from the School of Management.

What I am interested in is individual workplace performance. In particular, I want to contribute to understanding performance better, which means how to define, conceptualise and measure this. Ultimately, I hope that my research will aid in making the process of appraising performance a more effective and satisfying experience for everyone involved and that it will generally have a positive impact on how organisations manage performance.

Three studies will help me achieve this goal: The first study is a thorough review of the existing body of literature (including a meta-analysis); this will help me determine what we know and, more importantly, what we don’t know yet and where further research can take up. For the second study, I will conduct interviews with a broad range of working individuals to explore their notions of workplace performance. From the results acquired in studies 1 and 2, I will develop a model as well as a measure of performance. This measure will consequently be tested and improved in study 3 by administering online questionnaires.

Other research interests include:

• Cross-cultural assessments, for example in a coaching context
• Psychometric measures: development and application in recruitment, selection and development

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journals

Rojon, C., McDowall, A., & Saunders, M. N. K. (2011). On the experience of conducting a systematic review in Industrial, Work and Organizational Psychology: Yes, it is worthwhile. Journal of Personnel Psychology, 10(3), 133-138.

Saunders, M. N. K. & Rojon, C. (forthcoming, 2011). On the attributes of a critical literature review. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice.

Rojon, C., & McDowall, A. (2010). Cultural Orientations Framework (COF) assessment questionnaire in cross-cultural coaching: A cross-validation with Wave Focus Styles. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring, 8(2), 1-26.  

Conference Papers and Posters

Rojon, C., Saunders, M. N. K. & McDowall, A. (2011, September). Does it pay to be specific about performance? Some meta-analytical evidence. Forthcoming paper presentation at the British Academy of Management Conference, Birmingham, UK.

Rojon, C., McDowall, A. & Saunders, M. (2011, January). Individual workplace performance revisited: A systematic review of the criterion-space. Paper presented at the Division of Occupational Psychology Conference, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK.

Rojon, C., Saunders, M. & McDowall, A. (2010, September). Systematic reviewing at an interface. Paper presented at the British Academy of Management Conference, Sheffield, UK.

Rojon, C. & McDowall, A. (2009, May). Coaching across cultures: The psychometric quality of the Cultural Orientations Framework questionnaire (Rosinski, 2007). Poster presented at the 14th European Congress of Work and Organizational Psychology, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Rojon, C. & McDowall, A. (2009, January). Cross-cultural assessment: The actual state of affairs. Paper presented at the Division of Occupational Psychology Conference, Blackpool, UK.

Rojon, C. & McDowall, A. (2008, December). The Cultural Orientations Framework questionnaire (Rosinski, 2007) put to test: Validation of a new measure for use in cross-cultural coaching. Paper presented at the 1st European Coaching Psychology Conference, London, UK.

Further Publications

Rojon, C. (forthcoming, 2012). Case 3: Individual workplace performance – systematically reviewed (case study). In M. Saunders, P. Lewis & A. Thornhill (Eds.), Research methods for business students (6th ed.). Harlow, United Kingdom: Financial Times Prentice Hall.

Teaching

I am involved in a number of activities within the Department of Psychology and the School of Management; amongst others:

• Providing lectures for undergraduate and postgraduate Psychology students
• Assisting Psychology and Management scholars in their research activities
• Marking of assignments for undergraduate Psychology students
• Acting as a demonstrator for SPSS tutorials for postgraduate Management and undergraduate Psychology students
• Invigilating exams

Contact Céline

Please get in touch using the details above with any queries, comments or suggestions that you may have. Similarly, if you’d like to participate in my studies or if you think your organisation might be interested in cooperating with me, I would be very happy to hear from you!