SHRM- CP Leadership and Motivational
Theories Exam Actual Questions and
Answers 2026
Motivational Theory: Goal setting theory -
correct answer ✅having a goal tends to improve performance.
goals should be specific and clear, important, realistic but
challenging
Motivational Theory: attribution theory (Heider) -
correct answer ✅all people try to understand the reasons for
certain behavior and that the reasons can be: internal or related to
an individuals charactertistic (ex. failure might be attributed to an
employees lack of genuine interest in the outcome; external or
related to environmental factors( ex. employee might feel that a
failure was due to managers lack of support.
Motivational Theory: attribution theory factors -
correct answer ✅1. stable or unstable: referring to consistency or
changebilty (ex. one's intelligence doesn't change but the effort one
puts does.
2. locus of control: referring to an internal or external cause for the
outcome
3. controlability: the factor is under the employees control
, SHRM- CP Leadership and Motivational
Theories Exam Actual Questions and
Answers 2026
Expectancy Theory (Vroom) -
correct answer ✅- Expectancy: persons belief that a chance exists
that a certain effort will lead to a particular level of performance
-instrumentality: persons belief that a specific action leads to a
specific reward
-valence: the strength of an individuals desire for a particular
outcome
Self determination theory -
correct answer ✅- competence: desire to master a task
- relatedness: experience to act and be part of a group
- autonomy: need to control one's life
(McClelland) 3 needs theory -
correct answer ✅1. Achievement: drives people to tackle work
that will produce results
2. Affiliation: drives people to make social connections and be part
of a group
3. Power: drives people to control or exert influence over others
Theories Exam Actual Questions and
Answers 2026
Motivational Theory: Goal setting theory -
correct answer ✅having a goal tends to improve performance.
goals should be specific and clear, important, realistic but
challenging
Motivational Theory: attribution theory (Heider) -
correct answer ✅all people try to understand the reasons for
certain behavior and that the reasons can be: internal or related to
an individuals charactertistic (ex. failure might be attributed to an
employees lack of genuine interest in the outcome; external or
related to environmental factors( ex. employee might feel that a
failure was due to managers lack of support.
Motivational Theory: attribution theory factors -
correct answer ✅1. stable or unstable: referring to consistency or
changebilty (ex. one's intelligence doesn't change but the effort one
puts does.
2. locus of control: referring to an internal or external cause for the
outcome
3. controlability: the factor is under the employees control
, SHRM- CP Leadership and Motivational
Theories Exam Actual Questions and
Answers 2026
Expectancy Theory (Vroom) -
correct answer ✅- Expectancy: persons belief that a chance exists
that a certain effort will lead to a particular level of performance
-instrumentality: persons belief that a specific action leads to a
specific reward
-valence: the strength of an individuals desire for a particular
outcome
Self determination theory -
correct answer ✅- competence: desire to master a task
- relatedness: experience to act and be part of a group
- autonomy: need to control one's life
(McClelland) 3 needs theory -
correct answer ✅1. Achievement: drives people to tackle work
that will produce results
2. Affiliation: drives people to make social connections and be part
of a group
3. Power: drives people to control or exert influence over others
