Question 1

Researchers suggest that investors are more influenced by news and stock market tips during periods of rising and falling prices than during periods of relative stability. This is consistent with social psychological research concerning

Accepted Answer

Normative influence refers to the pressure to conform to the norms and values of a particular group, while social comparison processes refer to the tendency to evaluate oneself by comparing oneself to others. During periods of rising and falling prices, investors may feel more pressure to conform to the opinions of others and compare their own decisions to those of others, making them more susceptible to the influence of news and stock market tips.

Question 2

Fredi believes that the best way to motivate his employees is to remind employees how valuable their contributions are to the company and to reward them for excellent performance. Fredi's beliefs are most consistent with

Accepted Answer

Fredi's belief that reminding employees of their value and rewarding them aligns with expectancy theory, which states that employees are motivated when they believe their efforts will lead to good performance, good performance will lead to rewards, and rewards are valuable to them. By reminding employees of their value, Fredi is increasing their belief that their efforts will lead to good performance and that good performance will lead to rewards. By rewarding excellent performance, Fredi is showing employees that good performance leads to rewards and that those rewards are valuable.

Question 3

In considering whether or not she is satisfied with the compensation she receives from her job, Imelda is likely to consider all of the following except

Accepted Answer

The other options are all factors that would likely be considered by Imelda when evaluating her compensation. Benefits, how raises are determined, and salary differences within the company are all direct aspects of compensation. However, the procedural interdependence of the company is not directly related to compensation, and therefore less likely to be a consideration for Imelda.

Question 4

According to research by Zhou and colleagues (2009), social rejection

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to research by Zhou and colleagues...

Question 5

Shefrin (2000) suggests that stock market decisions are heavily influenced by

Accepted Answer

Shefrin suggests that stock market decisions are heavily influenced by social psychological variables, such as emotions, cognitive biases, and group dynamics, in addition to purely economic factors. Random fluctuations and insider trading may also play a role, but are not the main focus of Shefrin's argument.

Question 6

According to expectancy theory, worker motivation depends on all of the following except

Accepted Answer

Expectancy theory proposes that worker motivation depends on three factors: expectancy (the belief that extra effort will result in improved performance), instrumentality (the belief that improved performance will lead to valued rewards), and valence (the value or desirability of the rewards). Intrinsic motivation, which refers to the inherent satisfaction and enjoyment that a person experiences from performing a task, is not explicitly included in this theory. However, it may indirectly affect motivation by influencing the person's expectancy and valence. Therefore, the correct answer is B, high intrinsic motivation.

Question 7

Bernard is an African-American professional. Research suggests fairly clearly that he will be more likely than a White professional to

Accepted Answer

Bernard is an African-American professional. Research suggests fairly clearly that he will be more likely than a White professional to feel excluded socially from informal work groups.

Question 8

Terrell is concerned because he feels that he is working harder and performing better than most of the other wide receivers in the NFL, yet he is not being paid more than many of them. His concerns are consistent with

Accepted Answer

Terrell's concerns are consistent with equity theory, which suggests that individuals compare their own inputs and outcomes (such as effort and performance) to those of others in similar positions to determine whether or not they are being treated fairly. Terrell feels that he is not being fairly compensated relative to other wide receivers who may be performing at a lower level, which is a key component of equity theory.

Question 9

Carmelo is an extremely talented basketball player, and professional teams keep offering him lots of money to play for them. Though he doesn't particularly enjoy playing basketball, he continues to do so because of the money. In this situation, Carmelo is

Accepted Answer

Carmelo is motivated by external factors, such as the money he receives for playing basketball, which makes him extrinsically motivated.

Question 10

In 2006, American women were paid 81 cents for every dollar men were paid. All of the following are explanations provided by the book for this gender-based wage disparity except

Accepted Answer

The answer of In 2006, American women were paid 81...

Question 11

Research on race and corporate leadership indicates that

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that there is a disproportionately low number of racial minority CEOs in corporate leadership positions. While there may be some representation of minority individuals in other leadership positions, the overall number of racial minority CEOs is significantly lower compared to their proportion in the general population.

Question 12

Being able to make attributions for a dip in a stock makes investors

Accepted Answer

The answer of Being able to make attributions for a...

Question 13

Greenberg (1988) found that workers assigned to higher-status offices improve their job performance, whereas those assigned to lower-status offices slow their performance. This finding supports the predictions of

Accepted Answer

Greenberg's finding supports the predictions of equity theory, which suggests that individuals strive to maintain balance between their inputs and outcomes in comparison to others in their social environment. The individuals in higher-status offices are perceived to have higher inputs and outcomes, leading to increased motivation and job performance. In contrast, those in lower-status offices perceive an inequity in their inputs and outcomes, leading to decreased motivation and job performance.

Question 14

Thor would like to get his son to read more without compromising the child's intrinsic motivation to read. Which of the following could best achieve this?

Accepted Answer

Option D is the best choice because it provides an external incentive without compromising the child's intrinsic motivation. By giving the child a new book for every book that he finishes, Thor is providing positive reinforcement for the child's reading behavior. This can motivate the child to continue reading while still allowing him to enjoy reading for the sake of enjoying it, rather than simply reading to meet a specific goal or deadline. Additionally, this method allows the child to feel a sense of ownership over his reading choices and progress, which can further enhance his intrinsic motivation to read.

Question 15

Summer, the owner of a music box company, subscribes to equity theory. It is likely that she will be especially concerned that

Accepted Answer

Equity theory focuses on the fairness of employees' input (effort, skill, and experience) compared to their output (rewards, such as salary and recognition). Therefore, Summer would be especially concerned that individuals who put the most into the company earn the highest salaries.

Question 16

Research by Vohs and colleagues (2006) demonstrates the effects of leading participants to think about money. Which of the following is not one of those effects?

Accepted Answer

The effects of thinking about money, as outlined by Vohs and colleagues (2006), include an increase in selfish behavior, decreased helping behavior, and a preference for working alone rather than in groups. However, there is no mention of encroaching on personal space or engaging in unwanted physical touching as an effect of thinking about money.

Question 17

One race-related difference in employment experiences is that young employees of color are less likely than White employees to

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that young employees of color have less access to influential White mentors in their companies, which can limit their opportunities for advancement and hinder their career development. This is referred to as the "sponsorship gap."

Question 18

People often try to relieve the distress of being underpaid or overpaid by

Accepted Answer

Convincing oneself that equity already exists is a common way for people to cope with perceptions of unfair pay, whether they are underpaid or overpaid. People may try to convince themselves that they are being paid fairly, despite evidence to the contrary, in order to reduce the psychological distress of inequity. This is known as cognitive dissonance. Option B, escalating commitment, is unrelated to coping with pay inequity. Option C, using assessment centers, may be a tool for determining fair compensation, but it does not address how people cope with perceptions of inequity. Option D, perceiving rewards as having informational value, is a concept related to expectancy theory and motivation, but it is also unrelated to coping with pay inequity.

Question 19

Cleon has always enjoyed making ceramic figurines for his colleagues. In return for a particular piece, a colleague gives him $100. Cleon's intrinsic motivation for making ceramic figurines is particularly likely to be undermined if he

Accepted Answer

Cleon's intrinsic motivation for making ceramic figurines would be undermined if he perceives the payment as controlling his behavior. Intrinsic motivation comes from within and is driven by personal interest or enjoyment. When external factors such as payment are introduced, it can shift the focus from the enjoyment of the activity itself to the reward. If Cleon starts to perceive the money as controlling his behavior, it can decrease his intrinsic motivation and make him feel like he is only doing it for the reward.

Question 20

Lancelot would like to increase employee motivation and productivity. According to expectancy theory, which of the following would be most effective?

Accepted Answer

According to expectancy theory, individuals are motivated to exert effort towards a goal if they believe that their effort will result in improved job performance, which will lead to rewards. Instituting a profit-sharing plan based on job performance ensures that employees who work harder and achieve better job performance will receive a greater share of the rewards, which is likely to increase their motivation and productivity.

Quiz 13: Business