Question 1

A factory worker really wants to move up in the corporation. He does his work, stays late, and is always looking for extra ways to help. He gets passed up for promotion after promotion. This will MOST LIKELY affect his ________.

Accepted Answer

Instrumentality refers to the belief that if one performs well, then a valued outcome will be received. If the worker is consistently passed up for promotions despite his efforts, his belief in the connection between performance and rewards (instrumentality) is likely to be affected.

Question 2

________ exists when an individual perceives that his or her outcome/input ratio is greater than that of a referent.

Accepted Answer

Overpayment inequity exists when an individual perceives that their input is not equal to their outcome in comparison to a referent. This means the individual perceives themselves as receiving more rewards than they should based on their effort or contribution in comparison to the referent.

Question 3

Clara Williams perceives that if she can complete the training of 1,200 employees by the end of this year, she will get the promotion she desires. According to expectancy theory, Clara believes that the ________.

Accepted Answer

According to expectancy theory, instrumentality refers to the belief that if an individual completes a task or achieves a performance goal, it will result in a specific outcome or consequence. In this case, Clara believes that if she completes the employee training, she will be promoted. Therefore, the instrumentality of completing the employee training is +1. Valence, on the other hand, refers to the value an individual places on the outcome or consequence. Clara perceives that the promotion is desirable, so the valence of completing the employee training is also positive, but we cannot determine that it is exactly 1.

Question 4

All of the following can be the referent referred to in equity theory EXCEPT ________.

Accepted Answer

Equity theory focuses on comparing one's own outcomes-inputs ratio to the outcomes-inputs ratio of a referent. The referent could be another worker perceived as similar to oneself (A), one's expectations about what the job should require and provide (C), or a group of workers perceived as similar to oneself (D). However, the referent cannot be oneself at the current point in time (B) as this is the very person whose outcomes-inputs ratio is being evaluated against the referent.

Question 5

Which of the following is the LEAST LIKELY question that an employee would ask himself when thinking about what to do and how hard to try to succeed at work?

Accepted Answer

While an employee may consider the financial impact of their work on the company, it is the least likely question they would ask themselves when thinking about what to do and how hard to try to succeed at work. The other options all relate more directly to personal motivation and goal attainment.

Question 6

Expectancy is a worker's perception about the relationship between ________.

Accepted Answer

Expectancy is a concept from Victor Vroom's expectancy theory, which suggests that a worker's motivation is influenced by the belief that their effort will lead to desired performance.

Question 7

According to expectancy theory, valence, instrumentality, and expectancy must be ________ in order for an employee to be motivated to perform desired behaviors and to perform them at a high level.

Accepted Answer

According to expectancy theory, all three factors (valence, instrumentality, and expectancy) must be high for an employee to be motivated. Valence refers to the importance an individual places on the expected outcome or result of an action. Instrumentality refers to the belief that a particular performance level will result in certain outcomes. Expectancy refers to the belief that effort will result in high performance. When all three factors are high, employees are more likely to be motivated to perform the desired behaviors and perform them at a high level.

Question 8

Bridgette notices that she and Daryll work the same amount with the same effort, but she gets paid less. Trish believes she is working less than Carol but getting paid more. All of this is creating tension in the workplace. The manager of this organization can BEST alleviate this tension by ________.

Accepted Answer

The best way for the manager to alleviate tension in the workplace is by improving perceptions of equity. Bridgette and Daryll are exhibiting a perception of inequity, while Trish and Carol are exhibiting a perception of over-reward, both of which can lead to tension and animosity among employees. The manager can address this by discussing the company's compensation policies and ensuring that employees understand how pay decisions are made. This can help to improve perceptions of fairness and equity in the workplace.

Question 9

Barbara Subaru is a secretary with a prestigious law firm who has observed that other secretaries with the firm receive better pay and have better working conditions than she does, even though she is more productive than they are. Equity theory would label this condition as ________.

Accepted Answer

Underpayment inequity occurs when an employee perceives that they are receiving less pay or benefits in comparison to their coworkers who are performing similar work. In this scenario, Barbara observes that her coworkers are receiving better pay and working conditions despite her being more productive, which is an example of underpayment inequity.

Question 10

When considering equity theory, which of the following is NOT an input?

Accepted Answer

Equity theory focuses on the fairness of outcomes relative to inputs in a social setting. Inputs are what an individual contributes, such as education, experience, and effort. Compensation is considered an outcome, not an input.

Question 11

Which motivation theory addresses the following question: "Are the outcomes perceived as being at an appropriate level in comparison to the inputs?"

Accepted Answer

Equity theory examines whether individuals perceive that the rewards they receive for their work are equitable in comparison to the inputs they have contributed. This theory focuses on the balance between the outcomes received and the inputs (effort, time, skills, etc.) given, and individuals may feel demotivated if they perceive an inequity in this balance.

Question 12

According to expectancy theory, if a consequence has a valence and an employee has high instrumentality but low expectancy what type of motivation will exist?

Accepted Answer

Expectancy theory states that motivation is a product of expectancy, instrumentality, and valence. If an employee has high instrumentality but low expectancy, they believe that their effort will not lead to the desired outcome. This will result in low motivation.

Question 13

Expectancy theory asserts that if an outcome has negative valence, an employee ________.

Accepted Answer

Expectancy theory suggests that if an outcome has negative valence, the employee would prefer not having the outcome. In other words, they would prefer avoiding the negative outcome rather than having it.

Question 14

According to Stacy Adams, a ________ is simply another employee or group of employees perceived to be similar to oneself.

Accepted Answer

According to Stacy Adams, a referent is simply another employee or group of employees perceived to be similar to oneself, often used in the context of equity theory to compare fairness and equity in the workplace.

Question 15

________ is based on the premise that the employee perceives the relationship between his or her outcomes and his or her inputs.

Accepted Answer

Equity theory is based on the concept of perceived fairness. It suggests that individuals compare the ratio of their inputs (effort, experience, education, etc.) to outcomes (salary, benefits, recognition, etc.) with those of others in similar situations. If the ratio is perceived as unequal, employees may experience a sense of inequity, which can lead to feelings of frustration and reduced motivation.

Question 16

According to ________, what is important to motivation is how an employee perceives his or her outcome/input ratio compared to the outcome/input ratio of another person.

Accepted Answer

Equity theory proposes that an employee's motivation is influenced by how they perceive the fairness of their outcomes (rewards) in relation to their inputs (effort) when compared to the outcomes/inputs of other employees. If an employee perceives an inequity in their outcome/input ratio compared to others, they may become demotivated. Therefore, equity theory suggests that perceived fairness is crucial to employee motivation.

Question 17

Buck Lewis believes that if he competes in a local rodeo and can stay on a bucking bronco for eight seconds, he will win a silver buckle that he would really like to have. However, he also believes that his chances of staying on the horse for that amount of time are zero. As a result, expectancy theory would MOST LIKELY predict that Buck will ________.

Accepted Answer

According to expectancy theory, motivation is a function of three variables: expectancy, instrumentality, and valence. In this case, Buck believes his chances of staying on the horse for eight seconds are zero, which means he has a low expectancy of success. Therefore, he is unlikely to be motivated to compete in the rodeo, even if he desires the silver buckle (which would give him a high valence). So, the most likely prediction is that he will have zero motivation to compete.

Question 18

________ is a worker's perception of the extent to which performing certain behaviors or performing at a certain level will lead to the attainment of a particular outcome.

Accepted Answer

Instrumentality is the belief that if one does meet performance expectations, he or she will receive a greater reward. This concept is a part of expectancy theory, which deals with the cognitive processes regarding choice, or choosing one thing over another.

Question 19

According to equity theory, the two basic types of inequity are ________.

Accepted Answer

Equity theory identifies two basic types of inequity - overpayment and underpayment. Overpayment occurs when an individual perceives that their inputs (e.g. effort, skill, experience) are less than the inputs of their referent (e.g. coworker, peer) but their outcomes (e.g. salary, recognition) are greater. Underpayment occurs when an individual perceives that their inputs are greater than the inputs of their referent but their outcomes are less.

Question 20

A person with high self-efficacy is MOST LIKELY to have high ________.

Accepted Answer

Self-efficacy refers to the belief in one's own ability to achieve goals and succeed in tasks. A person with high self-efficacy is likely to have high expectancy, meaning they believe that their efforts will result in successful outcomes. Instrumentality refers to the belief that the outcome depends on the performance or behavior, valence refers to the value placed on outcomes, and equity refers to a sense of fairness in the distribution of outcomes. While these concepts may also be important for motivation and performance, they are not directly related to self-efficacy.

Quiz 6: The Nature of Work Motivation