6 Perception

Question 1

Define

perception

Perception

Answer 1

A process by which individuals organize and interpret their sensory impressions to give meaning to their environment

Perception

Question 2

Concept

A process by which individuals organize and interpret their sensory impressions to give meaning to their environment

Answer 2

perception

Question 3

Why is perception important in the study of Organizational Behavior (OB)?

perception

Answer 3

It is important because people’s behavior is based on their perception of what reality is, not on reality itself.

“perception is reality”

perception

Question 4

Identify

dimensions of perception

perception

Answer 4

The perceiver
The situation
The target

perception

Question 5

List

Factors that influence perception in the situation

perception

Answer 5

• Time
• Work setting
• Social setting

perception

Question 6

List

Factors that influence perception in the perceiver

perception

Answer 6

• Attitudes
• Motives
• Interests
• Experience
• Expectations

perception

Question 7

List

Factors that influence perception in the target

perception

Answer 7

• Novelty
• Motion
• Sounds
• Size
• Background
• Proximity
• Similarity

perception

Question 8

complete the sentence

The perception concepts most relevant to OB include

Perception

Answer 8

person perception—the perceptions people form about each other

Perception

Question 9

Define

attribution theory

perception

Answer 9

An attempt to explain the ways we judge people differently, depending on the meaning we attribute to a behavior, such as determining whether an individual’s behavior is internally or externally caused.

perception

Question 10

What does attribution theory suggests about observing an individual’s behavior?

perception

Answer 10

we attempt to determine whether it was internally or externally caused.

perception

Question 11

According to Attribution theory

The determination of whether a behavior was internally or externally caused, is determined by three factors:

perception

Answer 11

1. distinctiveness
2. consensus
3. consistency

perception

Question 12

According to Attribution theory

What are internally caused behaviors?

perception

Answer 12

… those an observer believes to be under the personal behavioral control of another individual.

perception

Question 13

According to Attribution theory

What are externally caused behaviors?

perception

Answer 13

… what we imagine the situation forced the individual to do

perception

Question 14

According to Attribution theory

If you attribute an employee’s tardiness to excessive partying the night before, this is an ____ attribution

perception

Answer 14

internal [attribution]

perception

Question 15

According to Attribution theory

If you attribute an employee’s tardiness to excessive traffic, this is an ____ attribution

perception

Answer 15

external [attribution]

perception

Question 16

According to Attribution theory

Distinctiveness refers

perception

Answer 16

… to whether an individual displays different behaviors in different situations.

If the behavior is par for the course, it is an internal attribution.
If the behavior is unusual, it is an external attribution

perception

Question 17

According to Attribution theory

Consistency is

perception

Answer 17

akin to change in baseline behavior

A tardy employee who is always late is consistent.
A tardy employee who is never late is not consistent

perception

Question 18

According to Attribution theory

Consensus is

perception

Answer 18

if everyone who faces a similmar situation responds in the same way

perception

Question 19

Describe

Attribution Theory flow of information

Perception

Answer 19

Observation -> Interpretation -> Attribution of cause

Perception

Question 20

Define

fundamental attribution error

perception

Answer 20

The tendency to underestimate the influence of external factors and overestimate the influence of internal or personal factors.

Perception

Question 21

Concept

The tendency to underestimate the influence of external factors and overestimate the influence of internal or personal factors.

perception

Answer 21

fundamental attribution error

perception

Question 22

Define

self-serving bias

perception

Answer 22

the tendency to:
1. attribute ambiguous information as flattering
2. accept positive feedback
3. reject negative feedback

perception

Question 23

regarding attribution error

Asian managers were more likely to blame or praise ____ , whereas Western observers placed blame and praise ____ .

perception

Answer 23

the entire institution / organization;
individual managers

perception

Question 24

Complete the sentence

The concept of attribution theory significantly advances our understanding of person perception by …

perception

Answer 24

helping us identify why we draw certain conclusions from people’s behavior.

perception

Question 25

Fill in the blank

The concept of attribution theory significantly advances our understanding of ____ by helping us identify why we draw certain conlcusions from people’s behavior.

perception

Answer 25

person perception

perception