Member Validation: Memorable Message Effects on Newcomer Social Integration and Organizational Socialization

During organizational socialization, newcomers utilize memorable messages to make sense of their organizational situations. Researchers recognize memorable messages are important to the socialization experience due to their ability to enhance task performances (Hart, 2012; Stohl, 1986). However, socialization experiences involve developing both task competencies (Miller, 2015) and relationships (Moreland & Levine, 1982); and yet, the effects of memorable messages on relational development remains unexplored. In order to test the relationally-driven socializing potential of memorable messages, the present study had three goals. First, to investigate the effects of memorable messages on relational development during socialization. Second, to explore the relationship between member validation and acceptance. Third, to observe the relationship between acceptance and successful socialization outcomes. In addition to testing hypotheses, in a conservative attempt to mitigate the potential risk of multicollinearity among the study variables, additional post hoc analyses were conducted. The results of the hypothesis and post hoc tests were compared. Taken together, the findings of the present study suggested that memorable messages have the potential to improve socialization outcomes when mediated by coworker relationship development. Based on the results, practitioners are recommended to take an integrated approach to onboarding.