Chapter 1
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTRACT AND COMMITMENT
Workbook Exam and Review Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The psychological contract is _____.
a. a written notarized document
b. an individual’s beliefs regarding the terms and conditions of a reciprocal exchange
agreement between individuals and their organization (Easy; p. 7)
c. irrevocable
d. individuals’ beliefs about what their employer owes them
e. unchanging over time
2. Which two classes of decisions do individuals make when approaching a new organization?
a. the decision to join and the decision to participate (Easy; p. 15)
b. the decision to be socialized and the decision to participate
c. the decision to join and the decision to cooperate
d. the decision to join and the decision to be socialized
e. none of the above
3. Which of the following is not an aspect of the current psychological contract?
a. long-term employment (Moderate; p. 8-9)
b. employment determined by business needs
c. employee rewards for skills and performance
d. employee responsibility for maintaining their employability
, e. none of the above
4. Which of the following is an advantage of employee commitment?
a. lower job satisfaction
b. higher absenteeism
c. longer job tenure (Easy; p. 9)
d. lower performance
e. less ability to adapt to unforeseen circumstances
5. Which of the following is not one of the ways that psychological contracts vary
internationally?
a. different role expectations for bosses
b. self-fulfilling prophecy plays out differently (Moderate; p. 12)
c. Promises mean different things in different cultures.
d. The zone of negotiability about which employment conditions are under negotiation
varies from country to country.
e. Trust takes different forms and is earned differently in different cultures. This affects the
types of promises that are made and fulfilled in the workplace.
6. Which of the following is not an advantage of committed employees?
a. have better attendance records
b. adapt better to unforeseen circumstances
c. work harder at their jobs
d. have closer ties to the community (Moderate; p. 9)
e. perform better
7. How can managers increase employee commitment?
a. paying higher than market wages (Moderate; p. 10)
b. using teams to build social relationships
, c. creating a sense of community
d. supporting employee development
e. guaranteeing organizational justice
8. Which of the following is not one of the external influences and changing expectations that
have influenced psychological contracts in the last decade?
a. rapid rate of change in the business environment
b. global economy
c. more uncertainty and decreased job security for workers
d. more full-time jobs and core employees and less contingent and temporary
employment for peripheral employees (Moderate; p. 10-12)
e. changing economic conditions
9. Which of the following is not one of the external influences and changing expectations that
have influenced psychological contracts in the last decade?
a. downsizing
b. relatively high union representation (Moderate; p. 10-12)
c. reengineering
d. mergers and acquisitions
e. outsourcing and subcontracting of work
10. Which of the following is not a consequence of workplace incivility?
a. decreased work effort
b. decreased productivity
c. decreased motivation
d. decreased creativity
e. all of the above (Moderate; p. 10)
, 11. Which answer best describes social exchange theory?
a. People enter into relationships in which not only economic, but also social obligations
play a role.
b. People enter into relationships that are primarily based on economic obligations.
c. people are most comfortable when the exchange is balanced
d. answer choices a and c (Challenging; p. 7)
e. none of the above
12. Which of the following is not a component of the definition of organizational commitment?
a. strong desire to lead the organization (Moderate; p. 9)
b. emotional attachment to, involvement in and identification with the organization
c. strong belief in and acceptance of the organization’s goals and values
d. willingness to exert considerable effort on behalf of the organization
e. strong desire to remain in the organization
13. Which description best describes the youngest generation in the U.S. workplace, Gen Y?
a. prefer fun environment and teamwork; flexible work hours; looking for work with
significance; idealistic (Moderate; p. 11)
b. interested in self-fulfillment at work and having a voice in work decisions; fought against
hierarchical authority; work is central to lives; significant loyalty to corporate employers
c. work is less central; family and non-work activities more important; identity less tied to
work; less expectations of organizations and career stability
d. answer choices b and c
e. none of the above
14. Which of the following is not a reason why psychological contracts are important?
a. they link individuals to organizations
b. they let people know where they stand (Moderate; p. 8)
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTRACT AND COMMITMENT
Workbook Exam and Review Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The psychological contract is _____.
a. a written notarized document
b. an individual’s beliefs regarding the terms and conditions of a reciprocal exchange
agreement between individuals and their organization (Easy; p. 7)
c. irrevocable
d. individuals’ beliefs about what their employer owes them
e. unchanging over time
2. Which two classes of decisions do individuals make when approaching a new organization?
a. the decision to join and the decision to participate (Easy; p. 15)
b. the decision to be socialized and the decision to participate
c. the decision to join and the decision to cooperate
d. the decision to join and the decision to be socialized
e. none of the above
3. Which of the following is not an aspect of the current psychological contract?
a. long-term employment (Moderate; p. 8-9)
b. employment determined by business needs
c. employee rewards for skills and performance
d. employee responsibility for maintaining their employability
, e. none of the above
4. Which of the following is an advantage of employee commitment?
a. lower job satisfaction
b. higher absenteeism
c. longer job tenure (Easy; p. 9)
d. lower performance
e. less ability to adapt to unforeseen circumstances
5. Which of the following is not one of the ways that psychological contracts vary
internationally?
a. different role expectations for bosses
b. self-fulfilling prophecy plays out differently (Moderate; p. 12)
c. Promises mean different things in different cultures.
d. The zone of negotiability about which employment conditions are under negotiation
varies from country to country.
e. Trust takes different forms and is earned differently in different cultures. This affects the
types of promises that are made and fulfilled in the workplace.
6. Which of the following is not an advantage of committed employees?
a. have better attendance records
b. adapt better to unforeseen circumstances
c. work harder at their jobs
d. have closer ties to the community (Moderate; p. 9)
e. perform better
7. How can managers increase employee commitment?
a. paying higher than market wages (Moderate; p. 10)
b. using teams to build social relationships
, c. creating a sense of community
d. supporting employee development
e. guaranteeing organizational justice
8. Which of the following is not one of the external influences and changing expectations that
have influenced psychological contracts in the last decade?
a. rapid rate of change in the business environment
b. global economy
c. more uncertainty and decreased job security for workers
d. more full-time jobs and core employees and less contingent and temporary
employment for peripheral employees (Moderate; p. 10-12)
e. changing economic conditions
9. Which of the following is not one of the external influences and changing expectations that
have influenced psychological contracts in the last decade?
a. downsizing
b. relatively high union representation (Moderate; p. 10-12)
c. reengineering
d. mergers and acquisitions
e. outsourcing and subcontracting of work
10. Which of the following is not a consequence of workplace incivility?
a. decreased work effort
b. decreased productivity
c. decreased motivation
d. decreased creativity
e. all of the above (Moderate; p. 10)
, 11. Which answer best describes social exchange theory?
a. People enter into relationships in which not only economic, but also social obligations
play a role.
b. People enter into relationships that are primarily based on economic obligations.
c. people are most comfortable when the exchange is balanced
d. answer choices a and c (Challenging; p. 7)
e. none of the above
12. Which of the following is not a component of the definition of organizational commitment?
a. strong desire to lead the organization (Moderate; p. 9)
b. emotional attachment to, involvement in and identification with the organization
c. strong belief in and acceptance of the organization’s goals and values
d. willingness to exert considerable effort on behalf of the organization
e. strong desire to remain in the organization
13. Which description best describes the youngest generation in the U.S. workplace, Gen Y?
a. prefer fun environment and teamwork; flexible work hours; looking for work with
significance; idealistic (Moderate; p. 11)
b. interested in self-fulfillment at work and having a voice in work decisions; fought against
hierarchical authority; work is central to lives; significant loyalty to corporate employers
c. work is less central; family and non-work activities more important; identity less tied to
work; less expectations of organizations and career stability
d. answer choices b and c
e. none of the above
14. Which of the following is not a reason why psychological contracts are important?
a. they link individuals to organizations
b. they let people know where they stand (Moderate; p. 8)
