Dr. Jim MacGregor

Dr. Jim MacGregor
Position
Professor Emeritus
Contact
Credentials

PhD (Victoria), MSC, MA

Professional Information & Research Interests

Professional Information

Jim MacGregor has taught at the University of Victoria since 1979, and became a full professor at the School of Public Administration in 1992. His primary research interest is in problem solving, and he is a member of an international team that studies insightful problem solving supported by grants from NSERC and SSHRC. He has held visiting appointments with the University of York, University of Loughborough, and Lancaster University, in the UK. He has worked with a number of public and private agencies in areas of organizational psychology, human factors and research methodology, including the Atomic Energy Control Board, the Department of Communications, the BC Ministry of Advanced Education, the BC Ministry of the Environment, the BC Ministry of Health, BC Lotteries, Elections BC and the BC Public Service Commission.

Full CV

Research Interests

  • Organizational behaviour
  • Human information processing
  • Problem solving
  • Information retrieval

Selected Publications

Journal Articles 

  • MacGregor, J.N., & Chu, Y.  (2011). Human Performance on the Traveling Salesman and Related Problems:  A Review.  Journal of Problem Solving, 3, 2, Article 2.
  • Walinga, J., Cunningham, J.B., & MacGregor, J.N. (2011). Training insight problems through focus on barriers and assumptions.  Journal of Creative Behavior, 45, 47-58.   
  • MacGregor, J.N. (2012).  Indentations and starting points in travelling sales tours: implications for theory. Journal of Problem Solving, 5,1, Article 3.

Books, Chapters, Monographs

  • J.N. MacGregor "Menu Driven Systems".  A. Kent & J.G. Williams (eds). Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Technology, Vol. 25, pp. 181-210, Marcel Dekker, New York, 1992

Other Publications (book reviews, reports, etc)

  • Ormerod, T.C., Chronicle, E.P., & MacGregor, J.N. Asymmetrical analogical transfer in insight problem solving.  Cognitive Science Society Conference, Vancouver, July 2006, 1899-1904.
  • Cunningham, J.B., MacGregor, J.N., & Caverley, N.  Stress, absenteeism and presenteeism.  Western Academy of Management Conference, Missoula, Montana, March-April, 2007.
  • Cunningham, J.B., MacGregor, J.N., Gibb, J., & Haar, J. Understanding the characteristics of creative insights. Academy of Management Conference, Anaheim, California, August, 2008.

Grants & Awards

  • NSERC Discovery Grant, 2010
  • SSHRC Research Grant, 2010
  • SSHRC Research Grant, 2004

Recent Speaking Engagements & Event Participation

Paper, Lectures, Addresses

  • MacGregor, J.N., Cunningham, J.B., & Hunter, G. (April, 2010). Taxonomic categorization effects in insight problem solving. Experimental Psychology Society and Spanish Experimental Psychological Society Conference, Granada, Spain. 
  • Dusterhoff, C., Cunningham, J.B., & MacGregor, J.N. Performance appraisal satisfaction: Applying a moral justice perspective.  Western Academy of Management Conference, La Jolla, CA, March 2012. 
  • MacGregor, J.N., & Cunningham, J.B.   A new self-report instrument for creative problem solving: Development and test. Western Academy of Management Conference, La Jolla, CA, March 2012.

Courses Taught

  • ADMN 314: Public Sector Research & Analysis
  • ADMN 502A: Research Methods I
  • ADMN 502B: Research Methods II
  • ADMN 602: Research Methods
  • ADMN 607: Organizational Behaviour
  • ADMN 645: Organizational Development and Change

Professional Appointments & Memberships

  • Member, Experimental Psychology Society
  • Member, Editorial Board, Journal of Problem Solving