Deck 7: Motivation Theories

Question 1

Mariah is the manager in a restaurant. According to Douglas McGregor's Theory X, which of the following is a behaviour she would most likely exhibit?

A) She would empower her subordinates.
B) She would trust her employees to use discretion in most matters.
C) She would strictly control all the details of any project she is managing.
D) She would delegate authority extensively to junior managers.
E) She would let her employees choose their own goals.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

A local church is made up of people who are very different in their lifestyles and their stages of life. Mary is a 23-year-old single parent who earns the minimum wage. Jonathan is 60 years old, extremely wealthy, and works because he enjoys it. Jane is a 45-year-old lawyer who earns well and is well-respected in her profession; she is extremely career-oriented and is proud of her achievements. Which of the following do you think would motivate Jonathan the most?

A) more vacation time
B) more responsibility
C) greater career growth
D) more money
E) a greater sense of inner peace

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Motivation is defined as the processes that account for an individual's intensity, direction, and persistence of effort toward attaining a goal.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which of the following is a lower-order need?

A) social
B) safety
C) esteem
D) self-actualization
E) recognition

Question 5

Among the three key elements to define motivation, ________ measures how long a person can maintain effort.

A) intelligence
B) experience
C) direction
D) intensity
E) persistence

Question 6

Describe the three key elements in the definition of motivation.

Question 7

A local church is made up of people who are very different in their lifestyles and their stages of life. Mary is a 23-year-old single parent who earns the minimum wage. Jonathan is 60 years old, extremely wealthy, and works because he enjoys it. Jane is a 45-year-old lawyer who earns well and is well-respected in her profession; she is extremely career-oriented and is proud of her achievements. Jane is likely to focus on which of the following levels of needs?

A) esteem
B) growth
C) physiological
D) self-actualization
E) safety

Question 8

Some of your friends like to cram all night before exams; however, you are not able to keep your focus on the material for that length of time. Your study habits can be attributed to which element(s) of motivation?

A) intensity
B) direction
C) persistence
D) both intensity and persistence
E) both direction and persistence

Question 9

________ is defined as the processes that account for an individual's intensity, direction, and persistence of effort toward attaining a goal.

A) Leadership
B) Management
C) Selective perception
D) Emotional labour
E) Motivation

Question 10

Which of the following statements is true according to the two-factor theory?

A) The hygiene factors tend to be intrinsic factors.
B) Factors that lead to job satisfaction are extrinsic factors.
C) Adequate hygiene factors ensure that people are not dissatisfied.
D) Recognition is a hygiene factor.
E) Hygiene factors lead to job satisfaction.

Question 11

Motivation is one of the most frequently researched topics in OB. According to a study, by workers' own reports, they waste roughly 2 hours per day, not counting lunch and scheduled breaks and the biggest time-wasters are Internet surfing and ________.

A) updating their skills
B) conversing with managers
C) talking with coworkers
D) simulating work environment
E) reading instructional books

Question 12

Some researchers have attempted to revive components of the need hierarchy concept, using principles from evolutionary psychology. Which of the following statements is true in this regard?

A) Researchers propose that higher-level needs are the chief concern of immature animals or those with primitive nervous systems.
B) Researchers observe that lower needs are more frequently observed in mature animals with more developed nervous systems.
C) Researchers have noted distinct underlying biological systems for different types of needs.
D) Researchers observe that in time, these revisions to Maslow's hierarchy will definitely be useful to practicing managers.
E) Researchers have noted the presence of intricate social systems for different types of needs.

Question 13

A local church is made up of people who are very different in their lifestyles and their stages of life. Mary is a 23-year-old single parent who earns the minimum wage. Jonathan is 60 years old, extremely wealthy, and works because he enjoys it. Jane is a 45-year-old lawyer who earns well and is well-respected in her profession; she is extremely career-oriented and is proud of her achievements. According to Maslow's hierarchy, Mary is likely to focus on satisfying ________ needs.

A) social
B) esteem
C) physiological
D) self-actualization
E) growth

Question 14

According to Douglas McGregor's Theory Y, a manager assumes that employees ________.

A) dislike work
B) need to be controlled
C) avoid responsibility
D) view work as being as natural as rest or play
E) attempt to avoid work

Question 15

Motivation can be defined by three key elements. ________ is one of these three key elements and it is the element most of us focus on when we talk about motivation.

A) Intelligence
B) Experience
C) Expertise
D) Intensity
E) Knowledge

Question 16

According to the two-factor theory, which of the following factors is most likely to create job satisfaction?

A) improving working conditions
B) assuring job security
C) appreciating a job well done
D) improving the quality of supervision
E) changing company policies

Question 17

Which of the following statements is true regarding Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory?

A) "Social" needs relate to autonomy and achievement.
B) As each need becomes substantially satisfied, the next one becomes dominant.
C) "Esteem" needs relate to affection and friendship.
D) Social needs are lower-order needs.
E) Lower-order needs are satisfied internally.

Question 18

According to the two-factor theory, which of the following statements would likely be true?

A) When the working conditions are comfortable, employees will be satisfied.
B) Quality of supervision is a motivation factor.
C) Fixing the conditions that make the employees dissatisfied will not make them satisfied.
D) Employees are dissatisfied due to lack of recognition.
E) The major reason for dissatisfaction is probably the lack of promotion.

Question 19

The ________ theory is also called motivation-hygiene theory.

A) hierarchy of needs
B) goal-setting
C) self-determination
D) cognitive evaluation
E) two-factor

Question 20

Your fellow employees have a terrible work situation. They work in an old, run-down building with an antiquated heating system. The work itself is tedious and the supervisor is rarely available and only shows up to give reprimands for production shortfalls. Nobody has received a promotion in two years. The work is boring, repetitious, and unrewarding. You are trying to improve this situation with the help of Herzberg's two-factor theory. You decide that your first job should be to improve the hygiene factors. Which of the following would you consider a hygiene factor?

A) working conditions
B) training related to new skills
C) recognition
D) employee empowerment
E) promotion

Question 21

According to McClelland's theory of needs, ________ refers to the drive to excel, to achieve in relationship to a set of standards.

A) the need for growth
B) the need for achievement
C) the need for security
D) the need for power
E) the need for affiliation

Question 22

According to Herzberg's two-factor theory, the factors that lead to job satisfaction are separate and distinct from those that lead to job dissatisfaction.

Question 23

Which of the following theories indicates the existence of a dual continuum?

A) hierarchy of needs theory
B) self-determination theory
C) two-factor theory
D) cognitive evaluation theory
E) theory of needs

Question 24

According to the two-factor theory, ________ is a motivating factor.

A) better company policy
B) quality of supervision
C) responsibility
D) job security
E) pay

Question 25

According to Maslow, as each need becomes substantially satisfied, the next one becomes dominant.

Question 26

Under Theory Y, managers believe employees inherently dislike work and must therefore be directed or even coerced into performing it.

Question 27

According to McClelland's theory of needs, when jobs have a high degree of personal responsibility and feedback and an intermediate degree of risk, high achievers are strongly motivated.

Question 28

You manage a department of five employees. You have identified that Joe has high need for achievement, Mary has high need for power, and Tim has high need for affiliation. Sarah scored high on the need for power and low on the need for affiliation. Doug scores low on both need for power and need for affiliation. Which of these five employees would be best suited as a mentor to new employees with a chance to develop friendships?

A) Joe
B) Mary
C) Tim
D) Sarah
E) Doug

Question 29

Which of the following statements is true according to McClelland's theory of needs?

A) People with a high achievement need prefer doing tasks that involve a very high level of risk.
B) People with a high achievement need prefer jobs that have a low degree of personal responsibility.
C) The best managers tend to have a high need for affiliation.
D) People with a high achievement need tend to be successful managers, especially in large organizations.
E) The best managers tend to have a high need for power.

Question 30

According to the two-factor theory, how might a manager motivate employees?

Question 31

You manage a department of five employees. You have identified that Joe has high need for achievement, Mary has high need for power, and Tim has high need for affiliation. Sarah scored high on the need for power and low on the need for affiliation. Doug scores low on both need for power and need for affiliation. Which of these five employees is most likely to be suitable for a new assignment that involves a high degree of personal responsibility and feedback?

A) Joe
B) Mary
C) Tim
D) Sarah
E) Doug

Question 32

You manage a department of five employees. You have identified that Joe has high need for achievement, Mary has high need for power, and Tim has high need for affiliation. Sarah scored high on the need for power and low on the need for affiliation. Doug scores low on both need for power and need for affiliation. Which of these five employees is most suitable for taking on your responsibilities when you are on a vacation?

A) Joe
B) Mary
C) Tim
D) Sarah
E) Doug

Question 33

Describe Maslow's hierarchy of needs including the types of needs and how they become dominant.

Question 34

Which of the following theories proposes that people prefer to feel they have control over their actions, so anything that makes a previously enjoyed task feel more like an obligation than a freely chosen activity will undermine motivation?

A) the theory of needs
B) the motivation-hygiene theory
C) the two-factor theory
D) the self-determination theory
E) the goal-setting theory

Question 35

According to the two-factor theory proposed by Herzberg, which of the following factors is considered a hygiene factor?

A) promotional opportunity
B) quality of supervision
C) achievement
D) recognition
E) responsibility

Question 36

Jasmine wants to become head of her department. Although she will be greatly compensated if she achieves this aim and will gain control over many subordinates, the main reason she is pursuing this position is that she thinks she can do the job better than anyone else and wants people to know this. According to the McClelland's theory of needs, which of the following needs primarily drives Jasmine in this case?

A) the need for stability
B) the need for achievement
C) the need for growth
D) the need for affiliation
E) the need for power

Question 37

The culture of which country tends to have lower levels of internal motivation?

A) United States
B) Canada
C) Great Britain
D) Portugal
E) Australia

Question 38

The two-factor theory proposes that ________.

A) within every human being, there exists a hierarchy of five needs and as each of these needs becomes substantially satisfied, the next one becomes dominant
B) employees inherently dislike work and must therefore be directed or even coerced into performing it
C) employees can view work as being as natural as rest or play, and therefore the average person can learn to accept, and even seek, responsibility
D) the factors that lead to job satisfaction are separate and distinct from those that lead to job dissatisfaction
E) achievement, power, and affiliation are three important needs that help explain motivation

Question 39

Differentiate motivators from hygiene factors.

Question 40

McClelland's theory of needs concentrates on which three needs?

A) achievement, growth, and security
B) achievement, power, and affiliation
C) self-actualization, stability, and affiliation
D) affiliation, control, and security
E) control, status, and affiliation

Question 41

Which of the following theories suggests that pursuing goals out of intrinsic motives is more sustaining to human motivation than extrinsic rewards?

A) the theory of needs
B) the motivation-hygiene theory
C) the two-factor theory
D) the self-determination theory
E) the goal-setting theory

Question 42

Which of the following statements is true regarding goals?

A) Goal commitment is most likely to occur when the individual has an external locus of control.
B) Generalized goals produce a higher level of output as compared to specific goals.
C) People do better when they get feedback on how well they are progressing toward their goals.
D) If factors such as acceptance of the goals are held constant, the more simple the goal, the higher the level of performance.
E) Assigned goals appear to generate greater goal commitment in lower rather than higher power-distance cultures.

Question 43

Which of the following is not an ingredient common to all MBO programs?

A) an explicit time period
B) participative decision making
C) interdependence of tasks
D) performance feedback
E) specification of the goal

Question 44

Loni has worked at local dry cleaners for the past two years as a cashier. When the store was not busy with customers, Loni enjoyed helping Donatella, the seamstress, with various tasks such as sewing on buttons and fixing minor holes. Recently, Loni's job description was changed to include working with Donatella in the Alterations area 10 hours a week. Since then, Loni's enjoyment of working with Donatella has decreased. This decline can be explained by ________.

A) self-determination theory
B) goal-setting theory
C) Theory X and Theory Y
D) hierarchy of needs
E) expectancy theory

Question 45

Which of the following statements is true regarding a management by objective (MBO) program?

A) Many elements in MBO programs match propositions of cognitive evaluation theory.
B) MBO strongly advocates that the goals should be assigned by the managers without the employees participating in the goal-setting process.
C) MBO programs set generalized rather than specific goals.
D) MBO programs involve explicit time periods.
E) MBO programs strongly discourage providing performance feedback because it can have negative effects on employee motivation.

Question 46

________ involves translating the organization's overall objectives into specific objectives for each succeeding level in the organization.

A) Strategic planning
B) Management by objectives
C) Representative participation
D) Management buy-out
E) Management by exception

Question 47

Goal-setting theory and self-efficacy theory do not ________.

A) address employee behaviour
B) compete with one another
C) work toward improving motivation
D) complement each other
E) explain employee motivation

Question 48

People who pursue goals for extrinsic reasons are more likely to attain their goals and are happy even if they do not.

Question 49

What sort of goals does Management by Objectives (MBO) emphasize?

A) tangible, verifiable, and measurable
B) achievable, controllable, and profitable
C) inspirational, verifiable, and creative
D) challenging, rewarding, and measurable
E) profitable, attainable, and verifiable

Question 50

What are the four ways of increasing self-efficacy, proposed by Albert Bandura?

Question 51

What relationship exists between management by objectives (MBO) and goal-setting theory?

Question 52

According to the goal-setting theory, which of the following is not a factor influencing the goals-performance relationship?

A) feedback
B) goal commitment
C) knowledge
D) task characteristic
E) national culture

Question 53

Self-generated feedback is a more powerful motivator than externally generated feedback.

Question 54

The ________ theory is also known as the social cognitive theory or the social learning theory.

A) two-factor
B) self-determination
C) goal-setting
D) self-efficacy
E) hierarchy of needs

Question 55

Specific goals produce a higher level of output than does the generalized goal of "do your best."

Question 56

Goals seem to have a more substantial effect on performance when the ________.

A) goals are generalized (like "Do your best") rather than specific
B) tasks are complex rather than simple
C) tasks are novel rather than well learned
D) goals are easy rather than difficult
E) tasks are independent rather than interdependent

Question 57

________ indicates how strongly peoples' reasons for pursuing goals are consistent with their interests and core values.

A) Selective perception
B) Positivity offset
C) Cognitive dissonance
D) Emotional contagion
E) Self-concordance

Question 58

Which of the following statements is true regarding the cognitive evaluation theory?

A) This theory proposes that employees inherently dislike work and must therefore be directed or even coerced into performing it.
B) This theory hypothesizes that extrinsic rewards will reduce intrinsic interest in a task.
C) This theory is also called motivation-hygiene theory.
D) This theory is based on three needs: need for achievement, need for power, and need for affiliation.
E) This theory states that the factors that lead to job satisfaction are separate and distinct from those that lead to job dissatisfaction.

Question 59

The concept of self-concordance proposes that ________.

A) the factors that lead to job satisfaction are separate and distinct from those that lead to job dissatisfaction
B) employees inherently dislike work and must therefore be directed or even coerced into performing it
C) individuals who pursue goals because of an intrinsic interest are more likely to attain their goals
D) people with high achievement need tend to be the best general managers
E) extrinsic rewards will reduce intrinsic interest in a task

Question 60

Many elements in management by objectives (MBO) programs match propositions of ________ theory.

A) motivation-hygiene
B) cognitive evaluation
C) goal-setting
D) self-determination
E) hierarchy of needs

Question 61

According to the expectancy theory, the degree to which an individual believes that performing at a particular level will generate a desired outcome is indicated by the ________ relationship.

A) performance-reward
B) effort-performance
C) rewards-personal goals
D) effort-satisfaction
E) personal goal-self-actualization

Question 62

According to the expectancy theory, which of the following relationships indicates the degree to which the individual believes that a particular level of output will lead to the attainment of a desired outcome?

A) performance-reward
B) effort-performance
C) rewards-personal goals
D) effort-satisfaction
E) performance-achievement

Question 63

Helen is an office worker who processes health insurance forms. She has worked at her present job for three years. Initially she was criticized by her supervisor for sloppy work, but thereafter improved considerably. Now she consistently processes her forms without errors and even does more forms than her required quota. However, she has found her supervisor has not responded to the extra effort she puts in, giving her no praise and no financial reward. Helen is most likely to perceive that there is a problem in the ________ relationship.

A) rewards-personal goals
B) performance-awareness
C) effort-performance
D) personal goal-self-actualization
E) performance-achievement

Question 64

With reference to the expectancy theory, which of the following examples indicates a weak rewards-personal goals relationship?

A) The employee lacks the skill required for the desired performance level.
B) The organization's appraisal system assesses nonperformance factors such as creativity and initiative.
C) The organizational rewards are based on seniority.
D) The employee expects a poor appraisal as he believes that his manager does not like him.
E) The employee wants to be relocated to the Paris office but instead is transferred to Singapore.

Question 65

If a manager incorrectly assumes that all employees want the same thing, then according to the expectancy theory, it is most likely to result in a weak ________ relationship.

A) performance-achievement
B) effort-performance
C) performance-reward
D) rewards-personal goals
E) effort-satisfaction

Question 66

Which of the following ways of increasing self-efficacy is generally used by motivational speakers?

A) arousal
B) enactive mastery
C) focused training
D) vicarious modelling
E) verbal persuasion

Question 67

The expectancy theory proposes that ________.

A) employees can view work as being as natural as rest or play, and therefore the average person can learn to accept, and even seek, responsibility
B) achievement, power, and affiliation are three important needs that help explain motivation
C) the strength of our tendency to act in a certain way depends on the strength of our expectation of a given outcome and its attractiveness
D) extrinsic rewards will reduce intrinsic interest in a task
E) within every human being, there exists a hierarchy of five needs and as each of these needs becomes substantially satisfied, the next one becomes dominant

Question 68

You graduated from college two years ago and began working at Hampstead Electronics. You have received good performance evaluations and a raise. You just found out that your organization has hired a recent college graduate with no experience at a higher salary than you are now making. You consider this an unfair act and resolve to do something about it. In such a situation, you will most likely ________.

A) work harder
B) produce better work
C) acknowledge that the newly hired person is worth more
D) reduce the quality or quantity of work
E) continue the job to acquire benefits of seniority

Question 69

Which of the following is one of the four ways of increasing self-efficacy that involves gaining relevant experience with the task or job?

A) verbal persuasion
B) enactive mastery
C) vicarious modelling
D) arousal
E) focused training

Question 70

________ refers to an individual's belief that he or she is capable of performing a task.

A) Emotional contagion
B) Affect intensity
C) Self-efficacy
D) Cognitive dissonance
E) Need for power

Question 71

The researcher who developed self-efficacy theory, Albert Bandura, proposes four ways self-efficacy can be increased. Which of the following is one of these four ways that involves becoming more confident because you see someone else doing the task?

A) arousal
B) enactive mastery
C) focused training
D) vicarious modelling
E) verbal persuasion

Question 72

Joanna watches her friend Sharon slim down. This increases her confidence that she can lose weight too. Which of the following ways of increasing self-efficacy is represented by this example?

A) enactive mastery
B) vicarious modelling
C) arousal
D) verbal persuasion
E) focused training

Question 73

An employee, rightly or wrongly, perceives that the boss doesn't like him. As a result, he expects to get a poor appraisal, regardless of the level of effort he puts in. Under such circumstances, according to the expectancy theory, the employee is likely to see the ________ relationship as weak and demotivating.

A) rewards-personal goals
B) effort-performance
C) performance-reward
D) personal goal-self-actualization
E) performance-achievement

Question 74

In equity theory, individuals assess the ________.

A) cost-benefit ratio
B) efficiency-effectiveness trade-off
C) quantity-quality trade-off
D) outcome-input ratio
E) quality of outcome

Question 75

With reference to the expectancy theory, when pay is based on factors other than performance such as seniority, the ________ relationship tends to be weak.

A) effort-satisfaction
B) performance-reward
C) effort-performance
D) personal goal-self-actualization
E) performance-achievement

Question 76

You graduated from college two years ago and began working at Hampstead Electronics. You have received good performance evaluations and a raise. You just found out that your organization has hired a recent college graduate with no experience at a higher salary than you are now making. You consider this an unfair act and resolve to do something about it. Which of the following theories best describes such a situation?

A) equity theory
B) two-factor theory
C) goal-setting theory
D) theory of needs
E) self-determination theory

Question 77

Which of the following theories discusses three relationships: effort-performance relationship, performance-reward relationship, and rewards-personal goals relationship?

A) goal-setting theory
B) self-efficacy theory
C) equity theory
D) expectancy theory
E) self-determination theory

Question 78

With reference to the four ways of increasing self-efficacy as proposed by Albert Bandura, verbal persuasion involves becoming more confident ________.

A) because you gain relevant experience with the task or job
B) because you see someone else doing the task
C) because someone convinces you that you have the skills necessary to be successful
D) because you get rewarded for performing a similar task well
E) because you get energized or "psyched up" for performing the task

Question 79

________ is a form of self-fulfilling prophecy in which believing something can make it true.

A) The confirmation bias
B) The Pygmalion effect
C) The anchoring bias
D) The framing effect
E) The distinction bias

Question 80

Jill is an excellent technical writer. She has never missed a deadline and all her projects are of superior quality. She now wants to telecommute two days a week, so that she can spend more time with her family. She feels that she has proven her reliability. However, her boss is unable to comply with her request and gives her a substantial raise instead. Jill's disappointment demonstrates a breakdown in the ________ relationship.

A) performance-reward
B) effort-performance
C) rewards-personal goals
D) effort-satisfaction
E) performance-achievement