Unit 2: The Meaning Of Work

Question 1

Define attitude

Answer 1

Evaluative statement or beliefs about something / someone

Question 2

What are the 3 components of an attitude

Answer 2

🧠Cognitive thoughts ideas opinions responding to a stimuli
🤗Affective: emotional response occurring due to thoughts
🧍‍♀️Behavioural: reaction

Question 3

Which of the 3 attitude components can be manipulated and measured

Answer 3

Behavioural

Question 4

What are the 2 theories that link attitude and behaviours

Answer 4

Cognitive dissonance theory (Festinger, 1957)
Theory of Planned behaviours (Aizenan & Fishbein)

Question 5

What is cognitive dissonance theory

Answer 5

A theory linking attitudes and behaviours

Explains bhvrs that are congruent with attitudes (E.g. disliking the boss but going for coffee with him)
DISSONANCE: mental discomfort due to acting contrary to beliefs
- You change the outlook on situation (make the attitude match the behaviour; you’re going for coffee because it’s polite)

Question 6

What is dissonance

Answer 6

Discomfort mentally due to acting contrary to beliefs

Question 7

What is theory of planned behaviour

Answer 7

Links attitudes and behaviours

Background factors affect beliefs
(Individual: emotional, personality; Social: culture, background, Info (knowledge))

Behavioural beliefs —> attitude to bhvr

Normative beliefs —> subjective norm

Control beliefs —> perceived bhvr control

ALL affect intention —> behaviours
Actual behavioural control is a mediator

Question 8

Define organisational commitment

Answer 8

The extent to which an individual feels a positive relationship w Their company

Question 9

3 types of commitment

Answer 9

Affective commitment: Agree with philosophies of company
Continuance commitment: desire to stay due to no other/better options
Normative commitment: moral obligation

Question 10

How does commitment affect an individual at work

Answer 10

Withdrawal (absence, low motivation)
Performance

Question 11

How does commitment impact the organisation

Answer 11

Higher customer satisfaction
Higher product
More productive
Lower turnover
Fewer absences

Question 12

What is employee engagement

Answer 12

Enthusiasm & active involvement

Question 13

What is job involvement

Answer 13

Invested in their role for the company

Question 14

What are the 2 theories of attitude change

Answer 14

ELM: Elaboration likelihood model
HSM: Heuristic systematic model
(Crano & Prislun, 2006)

Question 15

What is elaboration likelihood model (ELM)

Answer 15

If you try to be rational/objective then you can achieve attitude change.

Interjust reliability: ‘if I’m the only one with this attitude maybe I’m wrong?’

Question 16

What is heuristic/systematic model? (HSM)

Answer 16

Changing attitude due to presence of someone with power credibility and attractiveness.
You adopt their attitudes

Question 17

What are the 3 general wider areas that affect behaviour at work

Answer 17

Emotion
Perception
Decision making

Question 18

What is the theory for emotions affecting work behaviour

Answer 18

Affective events theory (Ashkansay & Daus, 2002)

Question 19

What is the name of the theory for perception as a influence of work behaviours

Answer 19

Personal construct theory (Kelly, 1955)

Question 20

What is the theory for decision making as an influence on behaviour at work

Answer 20

Bounded rationality theory (Simon, 1972)

Question 21

What is affective events theory

Answer 21

How emotions affects work behaviours

States that work environment —> work events —> experienced emotion.
Experience emotion is also impact by personal dispositions (emotional stability etc)

Emotions affect
- affect driven behaviours (spontaneous acts of help etc)
- work attitudes (satisfaction, loyalty, commitment)

Question 22

Outline personal construct theory

Answer 22

How perception affects work behaviour

SELECTIVE ATTENTION: ability to ignore/focus on stimuli
STEREOTYPING
HALO EFFECT: lasting initial impressions
CONTRAST EFFECT: compare people with others
SIMILAR-TO-ME effect

Question 23

Outline bounded rationality theory

Answer 23

How decision making affects work bhvrs

Actions aren’t always rational bc limitations
LOSS AVERSION: choose risky option to avoid loss
INCOMPLETE INFO: to decide
COMPLEXITY

Question 24

In what scenario is intuitive decision making appropriate ?

Answer 24

INDIVIDUAL has deep knowledge of context & domain area of the problem

PORBLEMS & it’s tasks are judgemental not intellectual

Question 25

Why is it important to consider social influences on work behaviour

Answer 25

Because of the rise of group work

Question 26

What is social facilitation

Answer 26

Better performance when people are present

Question 27

What is drive theory

Answer 27

Presence of others can promote or inhibit behaviours

Explanations:
evaluation apprehension
Distraction-conflict theory

Question 28

Outline the 2 explanations for drive theory

Answer 28

EVALUATION APPREHENSION: work hard to avoid negative outcome

DISTRACTION CONFLICT THEORY: avoid distractions & conflict in the brain

Question 29

What is social loafing

Answer 29

Putting in less effort when part of a group. Effort higher when working alone

Question 30

What is personal identity

Answer 30

Traits & individual differences that give you a sense of self

Question 31

What is social identity

Answer 31

The way you perceive yourself due to being a member of a particular social group

Question 32

What are the 2 theories/studies of social influence

Answer 32

Conformity: Asch lines

Obedience to authority: milgrams shock

Question 33

What did ash’s lines study demonstrate

Answer 33

That being in the presence of a group can distort perception and response

Due to..
normative social influence
Information social influence