Question 1

Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory holds that a need at one level does not become activated until the next higher-level need is fully satisfied.

Accepted Answer

Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory suggests that higher-level needs become important only after lower-level needs are met, not that a lower-level need must be fully satisfied before a higher-level need becomes activated.

Question 2

Equity theory suggests that motivation results from the individual's attempts to satisfy needs.

Accepted Answer

Equity theory focuses on how individuals perceive fairness in the distribution of rewards and resources, and how these perceptions affect their motivation, rather than on the satisfaction of needs.

Question 3

Content theories of motivation focus on the thought or cognitive processes within people's minds that influence their behavior.

Accepted Answer

Content theories of motivation focus on identifying and understanding the specific factors that motivate individuals, such as needs, desires, and goals, rather than the cognitive processes that influence behavior.

Question 4

Abraham Maslow, Clayton Alderfer, David McClelland, and Frederick Herzberg have developed four of the better-known content theories of motivation.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. These four psychologists are well-known for their content theories of motivation.

Question 5

Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory identifies five levels of individual needs, ranging from physiological needs at the lowest level, through safety, social, and esteem needs, and finally to self-actualization needs at the highest level.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true.

Question 6

A person who likes praise and recognition from his or her supervisor is seeking the satisfaction of the social needs in Maslow's hierarchy.

Accepted Answer

The need for praise and recognition from a supervisor is typically associated with esteem needs in Maslow's hierarchy, not social needs. Social needs refer to the need for belonging and love, such as friendships and family relationships.

Question 7

Probably the best example of a process theory is Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory.

Accepted Answer

Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory is considered a content theory, focusing on what motivates people (specific needs), rather than a process theory, which explains how motivation occurs.

Question 8

Content theories of motivation mainly focus on the physiological and psychological deficiencies that people feel a compulsion to reduce or eliminate.

Accepted Answer

Content theories of motivation, such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs and Herzberg's two-factor theory, emphasize that individuals are motivated by the desire to fulfill their physiological and psychological needs. These needs are seen as deficiencies or deficits that people seek to minimize or eliminate in order to achieve a state of satisfaction or contentment.

Question 9

ERG theory collapses Alderfer's five need levels into three need categories.

Accepted Answer

Alderfer's ERG theory collapses Maslow's five need levels into three need categories: Existence, Relatedness, and Growth.

Question 10

Research indicates that psychological, safety and social needs become more important than esteem and self-actualization needs as individuals move up the corporate ladder.

Accepted Answer

Maslow's hierarchy of needs suggests that as individuals satisfy lower-level needs such as psychological, safety, and social needs, they become more motivated by higher-level needs like esteem and self-actualization, which would become more important as they move up the corporate ladder.

Question 11

In Maslow's needs hierarchy, the self-actualization need refers to the need to fulfill oneself as well as to grow and use abilities to the fullest and most creative extent.

Accepted Answer

This is the correct definition of the self-actualization need in Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Question 12

Research evidence suggests that the needs in Maslow's hierarchy are more likely to operate in a rigid rather than a flexible order.

Accepted Answer

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is often represented as a pyramid, but research suggests that the order in which these needs are met can be flexible and vary among individuals, rather than following a rigid, universal sequence.

Question 13

According to Maslow's needs hierarchy, the lower-order needs are esteem and self-actualization.

Accepted Answer

The lower-order needs in Maslow's hierarchy are physiological needs, safety needs, love/belonging needs, and esteem needs. Self-actualization is considered a higher-order need.

Question 14

According to Maslow's needs hierarchy, the lower-order needs are esteem and social.

Accepted Answer

The lower-order needs in Maslow's hierarchy are physiological, safety, and belongingness/love. Esteem and social needs are considered higher-order needs.

Question 15

Valence refers to the individual forces that account for the direction, level, and persistence of a person's efforts expended at work.

Accepted Answer

Valence is actually a component of expectancy theory and refers to the value an individual places on the rewards of an outcome, which in turn affects their motivation in the workplace. It does not directly refer to the forces accounting for the direction, level, and persistence of efforts.

Question 16

Both equity theory and expectancy theory are classified as process theories.

Accepted Answer

Both equity theory and expectancy theory are classified as process theories as they focus on the cognitive processes involved in motivation and how individuals perceive and evaluate their work situations.

Question 17

Maslow's model is easy to understand, quite popular, and the best research evidence supports the existence of a precise five-step hierarchy of needs.

Accepted Answer

While Maslow's hierarchy of needs is indeed easy to understand and quite popular, the best research evidence does not support the existence of a precise five-step hierarchy as Maslow described. Studies suggest that the order of needs might not be as rigid or universal as Maslow proposed.

Question 18

When discussing motivation, direction refers to an individual's choice when presented with a number of possible alternatives.

Accepted Answer

Direction refers to an individual's choice or preference among various alternatives, and is a key component of motivation.

Question 19

Maslow's social needs tend to be more important in more collectivist societies like Mexico, thereby challenging the structured approach to the pyramid across cultures.

Accepted Answer

Maslow's pyramid of needs is based on individualistic cultures, and there is evidence to suggest that the importance of social needs varies across cultures. In collectivist societies like Mexico, social needs such as belongingness and meaningful relationships with family and community are often prioritized over individual self-actualization.

Question 20

The five need levels in Maslow's hierarchy may vary according to a person's career stage, the size of the organization, or geographical location.

Accepted Answer

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is not a fixed model and can vary according to individuals' career stages, the size of the organization they work for, and geographical location. For example, someone in the early stages of their career may prioritize physiological and safety needs, while someone with a stable career may prioritize esteem and self-actualization needs. Similarly, someone working in a small organization may have different needs compared to someone in a large organization. Cultural and geographical factors can also influence the prioritization of needs.

Quiz 5: Motivation