Question 1

As a business manager, Julie often calls her employees' attention to their occasional mistakes while withholding praise for their many accomplishments. Julie fails to take full advantage of a basic principle of

Accepted Answer

Julie is not using operant conditioning to its full potential. Operant conditioning involves the use of rewards and punishments to shape behavior. By withholding praise for good performance, Julie is missing an opportunity to positively reinforce desirable behavior and increase the likelihood that it will be repeated. Instead, she is only using punishment (calling attention to mistakes) which can lead to resentment and decreased motivation among employees.

Question 2

The on-time completion of major work projects is most clearly facilitated by

Accepted Answer

Stating implementation intentions, or specific plans for how and when a task will be completed, has been shown to increase goal attainment and on-time completion of projects. This helps individuals stay focused and accountable for their tasks, leading to improved productivity and efficiency. Reducing flow, scripting structured interviews, and receiving 360-degree feedback are not directly related to on-time completion of projects.

Question 3

Engaged employees are likely to

Accepted Answer

Engaged employees are those who are committed and enthusiastic about their work. They have a clear understanding of their responsibilities and what is expected of them in their role, indicating option D is the correct answer. Option A is incorrect because practicing human factors psychology involves applying principles of psychology to design systems and improve human performance, which may not be related to employee engagement. Option B is incorrect because engaged employees do not view their work as just a job, but rather as a meaningful and fulfilling career. Option C is incorrect because engaged employees prefer working for managers with a participative leadership style, where they feel that their opinions are valued and their ideas are taken into account.

Question 4

Employees who put in work time but invest little passion or energy into their work are described as

Accepted Answer

Employees who put in work time but invest little passion or energy into their work are described as not engaged, indicating they may fulfill their tasks without much enthusiasm or emotional investment.

Question 5

Managers with a task-leadership style would be most likely to

Accepted Answer

Managers with a task-leadership style tend to be very detail-oriented and focused on the accomplishment of tasks. They are likely to remind employees of deadlines to ensure that work is completed on time. They may not give employees a high degree of freedom to develop their own work procedures, as they may have a specific way they want tasks to be completed. They are likely to closely monitor the productivity of individual employees to ensure that tasks are being completed efficiently. While they may mediate a conflict between employees if it is hindering task completion, it may not be their natural inclination as their focus is on task accomplishment.

Question 6

Grit can best be described as

Accepted Answer

Grit is most commonly defined as possessing a strong passion and dedication towards achieving one's goals, even in the face of challenges and setbacks.

Question 7

In studies of both secondary school and university students, ________ has been a better predictor of school performance than intelligence scores have been.

Accepted Answer

Self-discipline has been found to be a better predictor of school performance than intelligence scores in both secondary school and university students in multiple studies conducted. Social leadership, family birth order, and 360-degree feedback have not been found to be consistently related to academic performance.

Question 8

A specification of when, where, and how to achieve the subgoals necessary for completion of a major task is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A specification of when, where, and how to achieve the subgoals necessary for completion of a major task is called an action plan. A psychological contact is a mutual understanding between an employee and their employer regarding expectations, rewards, and obligations. The state of flow is a mental state of complete absorption in an activity. Engagement refers to the level of involvement and commitment an individual has towards their work or organization.

Question 9

Carlos is so friendly and likable that his job supervisors and co-workers often appraise his work skills and performance more positively than is actually warranted. This best illustrates evaluators' vulnerability to

Accepted Answer

Halo errors occur when evaluators allow their overall positive impression of a person to influence their evaluation of specific traits or abilities. In this case, Carlos's likable personality is leading his evaluators to rate his work skills and performance more positively than they should.

Question 10

Organizational psychologists are most likely to be involved in

Accepted Answer

The answer of Organizational psychologists are most likely to be...

Question 11

Managers who excel at task leadership typically

Accepted Answer

Managers who excel at task leadership typically use a directive style, which involves giving clear instructions, setting deadlines, and monitoring progress towards goals. Charisma and a democratic style may be helpful in other leadership situations, but they are not necessarily indicators of effective task leadership. Discouraging performance appraisals would not be an effective strategy for improving task performance.

Question 12

Those who demonstrate grit are especially likely to have a high level of

Accepted Answer

Grit is defined as perseverance and passion for long-term goals, and individuals who demonstrate grit often have a high level of achievement motivation. This means they are driven to accomplish their goals, even in the face of adversity or obstacles. Charisma, social leadership, and management training may be helpful abilities, but they are not necessarily correlated with grit.

Question 13

By praising their employees' positive behaviors, managers often encourage their workers to continue laboring productively. This best illustrates the value of

Accepted Answer

Praising positive behavior is a form of positive reinforcement, which encourages employees to continue those behaviors.

Question 14

A business setting in which workers have regular opportunities to do what they do best and perceive that they are part of something significant is one that promotes

Accepted Answer

The situation described emphasizes the importance of employee engagement, which means that workers feel invested in their work and understand how it contributes to the overall goals of the organization. This sense of purpose and fulfillment is closely tied to being able to use one's skills effectively and feeling like part of a meaningful team. A and B are not applicable, and D is not mentioned as relevant to the scenario.

Question 15

The practice of 360-degree feedback is especially likely to involve

Accepted Answer

360-degree feedback typically involves using behavior checklists and rating scales to collect feedback from multiple sources, including managers, peers, subordinates, and sometimes customers or clients. Unit bias and flow are not directly related to this practice, and while transformational leadership may be a relevant factor in some cases, it is not specific to 360-degree feedback.

Question 16

Jeff, who is 14, engages in rigorous tennis drills or competitive play at least four hours every day because he wants to master the sport and play on one of the best university teams in the country. His goal and behavior best illustrate the concept of

Accepted Answer

Jeff's behavior of engaging in rigorous tennis drills and competitive play for four hours each day to achieve his goal of playing on one of the best university teams in the country is an example of achievement motivation, which is the drive to excel or succeed at a task or goal.

Question 17

Leaders who set target dates for the completion of specific measurable goals best illustrate

Accepted Answer

Managing by objectives is a leadership approach that involves the setting of specific, measurable goals and establishing target dates for their achievement. This approach provides clarity and direction for employees, as well as a framework for evaluating their performance. Transformational leadership, on the other hand, is focused on inspiring and motivating employees to achieve their full potential, while 360-degree feedback is a process of soliciting feedback from a variety of sources to gain a comprehensive understanding of an employee's performance. The experience of flow refers to a state of deep engagement and absorption in a task, which can be facilitated by strong leadership but is not a leadership approach in and of itself.

Question 18

When researchers monitored the professional accomplishments of more than 1500 highly intelligent individuals, they found that the most successful were more ambitious, energetic, and persistent. This best illustrates the importance of

Accepted Answer

The given scenario is describing the link between professional success and personality traits like ambition, energy, and persistence. It highlights the importance of achievement motivation, the drive to achieve goals and success, in one's professional life. Hence, option C is the correct choice. Options A, B, and D are not related to the given scenario.

Question 19

In the process of generating humanitarian reforms in a cotton mill in Scotland, Robert Owen demonstrated

Accepted Answer

Robert Owen's approach to reforming the cotton mill in Scotland was focused on transforming the entire system of management and labor relations. He implemented innovative policies and practices that prioritized the well-being and empowerment of workers, which is a key aspect of transformational leadership.

Question 20

Expecting every full-time university professor to teach the same number of courses and engage in the same amount of research would

Accepted Answer

Every professor has unique strengths and areas of interest, and expecting them to teach and research the same amount would fail to develop these strengths. It is important to allow professors to specialize and excel in their respective areas, both for their personal satisfaction and for the benefit of the university as a whole.

Quiz 34: Motivation at Work