Developing a multi-foci perspective of psychological contract theory.

摘要

A "psychological contract" exists when an individual perceives that another party has obligated itself to a reciprocal exchange relationship with him/herself. Most researchers exploring this concept tend to focus solely on the exchange relationship existing between the individual and a unitary "employer" (e.g., Coyle-Shapiro & Conway, 2005; King & Bu, 2005; Raja, Johns, & Ntalianis, 2004; Rousseau, 2000; Rousseau, 2004; Sels, Janssens, & Van den Brande, 2004). However, it is important to note that psychological contract theory is not limited in scope to this specific exchange relationship. Rather, the concept can also be applied to the individual's relationships with "...a client, customer, supplier, or any other interdependent party" (Italics added: Rousseau, 1995: 34). Unfortunately, the implications of this theoretical flexibility are largely unexplored in academic research.;The central premise of this dissertation is that individuals have simultaneous distinct but related psychological contracts with various individuals and groups operating within an organizational context, and the purpose is to examine the psychological contract concept from this multi-foci perspective. I accomplish this purpose through a three-stage survey-based research study. The sample population for the study was the entire incoming class of freshman at the business college of a large mid-western university.;In Stage One, I investigated the nature of psychological contracts in my sample. This exploratory stage: (1) theoretically justified my research sample through an examination of archival data, (2) determined the foci of student psychological contracts through open-ended qualitative survey questions, and (3) determined the content of student psychological contracts through open-ended qualitative survey questions. In Stage Two, I used a quantitative survey methodology. Exploratory factor analyses were done to develop new measures of psychological contract content, and structural equation modeling procedures were used to test hypotheses related to psychological contract dimensions. In Stage Three, I again used a quantitative survey methodology and structural equation modeling procedures to test hypotheses related to psychological contract breach.;Overall, the described research program provides a substantial amount of evidence demonstrating that: (a) individuals have simultaneous multiple psychological contracts, each with a different focus, and (b) the dynamics associated with these psychological contracts change across foci. These results have important implications for both academic research and managerial practice.