Common Method Bias: It’s Bad, It’s Complex, It’s Widespread, and It’s Not Easy to Fix

Philip M. Podsakoff; Nathan P. Podsakoff; Larry J. Williams; Chengquan Huang; Junhui Yang

doi:10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-110721-040030

Common Method Bias: It’s Bad, It’s Complex, It’s Widespread, and It’s Not Easy to Fix

Philip M. Podsakoff, Nathan P. Podsakoff, Larry J. Williams, Chengquan Huang, Junhui Yang

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

334 Scopus citations

Abstract

Despite recognition of the harmful effects of common method bias (CMB), its causes, consequences, and remedies are still not well understood. There- fore, the purpose of this article is to review our current knowledge of CMB and provide recommendations on how to control it.We organize our review into five main sections. First, we explain the harmful effects of CMB (why it is bad). Second, we discuss the complexity caused by the fact that there are multiple sources of CMB, several of which are likely to be present in any study. Third, we present evidence that the conditions under which CMB is likely to occur are relatively widespread, and fourth, we explain why CMB is not easy to fix. Finally, we identify several avenues for future research.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	17-61
Number of pages	45
Journal	Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior
Volume	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-110721-040030
State	Published - Jan 22 2024
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Harman’s single-factor test
common method variance
marker variable technique
procedural and statistical remedies
same-source bias

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology
Applied Psychology
Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

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10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-110721-040030

Cite this

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title = "Common Method Bias: It{\textquoteright}s Bad, It{\textquoteright}s Complex, It{\textquoteright}s Widespread, and It{\textquoteright}s Not Easy to Fix",

abstract = "Despite recognition of the harmful effects of common method bias (CMB), its causes, consequences, and remedies are still not well understood. There- fore, the purpose of this article is to review our current knowledge of CMB and provide recommendations on how to control it.We organize our review into five main sections. First, we explain the harmful effects of CMB (why it is bad). Second, we discuss the complexity caused by the fact that there are multiple sources of CMB, several of which are likely to be present in any study. Third, we present evidence that the conditions under which CMB is likely to occur are relatively widespread, and fourth, we explain why CMB is not easy to fix. Finally, we identify several avenues for future research.",

keywords = "Harman{\textquoteright}s single-factor test, common method variance, marker variable technique, procedural and statistical remedies, same-source bias",

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doi = "10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-110721-040030",

language = "English (US)",

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T2 - It’s Bad, It’s Complex, It’s Widespread, and It’s Not Easy to Fix

AU - Podsakoff, Philip M.

AU - Podsakoff, Nathan P.

AU - Williams, Larry J.

AU - Huang, Chengquan

AU - Yang, Junhui

PY - 2024/1/22

Y1 - 2024/1/22

N2 - Despite recognition of the harmful effects of common method bias (CMB), its causes, consequences, and remedies are still not well understood. There- fore, the purpose of this article is to review our current knowledge of CMB and provide recommendations on how to control it.We organize our review into five main sections. First, we explain the harmful effects of CMB (why it is bad). Second, we discuss the complexity caused by the fact that there are multiple sources of CMB, several of which are likely to be present in any study. Third, we present evidence that the conditions under which CMB is likely to occur are relatively widespread, and fourth, we explain why CMB is not easy to fix. Finally, we identify several avenues for future research.

AB - Despite recognition of the harmful effects of common method bias (CMB), its causes, consequences, and remedies are still not well understood. There- fore, the purpose of this article is to review our current knowledge of CMB and provide recommendations on how to control it.We organize our review into five main sections. First, we explain the harmful effects of CMB (why it is bad). Second, we discuss the complexity caused by the fact that there are multiple sources of CMB, several of which are likely to be present in any study. Third, we present evidence that the conditions under which CMB is likely to occur are relatively widespread, and fourth, we explain why CMB is not easy to fix. Finally, we identify several avenues for future research.

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KW - marker variable technique

KW - procedural and statistical remedies

KW - same-source bias

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Common Method Bias: It’s Bad, It’s Complex, It’s Widespread, and It’s Not Easy to Fix

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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