A laboratory study of the impact of self-esteem, methods of payment, and choice of self-set goals on personal goals, productivity, and satisfaction using expectancy theory as an explanatory mechanism.
Item
-
Title
-
A laboratory study of the impact of self-esteem, methods of payment, and choice of self-set goals on personal goals, productivity, and satisfaction using expectancy theory as an explanatory mechanism.
-
Identifier
-
AAI9108152
-
identifier
-
9108152
-
Creator
-
Moussa, Faten Mohammed.
-
Contributor
-
Adviser: Orly Ben-yoav Nobel
-
Date
-
1990
-
Language
-
English
-
Publisher
-
City University of New York.
-
Subject
-
Business Administration, Management | Economics, Theory
-
Abstract
-
This study was designed to examine the factors and the mechanism by which monetary incentives influence goal choice, productivity and satisfaction. This study hypothesized that the highest level of personal goals, productivity and satisfaction is expected for high self-esteem subjects who are exposed to situations in which hard self-set goals are emphasized and in which monetary incentives are applied.;The mechanism of influence was explained by applying expectancy theory to goal-setting effects. Expectancy theory suggests that the choice of self-selected personal goals is a function of: (1) perceived expectancy of goal attainment; and (2) perceived valences of outcomes that are associated with goal attainment.;A two by four multifactorial experimental design was applied with two levels of methods of payment (piece-rate vs hourly-flat rate plans) and four types of choice of self-set goals (hard, easy, free-choice, and no goals) with one covariant (self-esteem). The sample for the study, whose desirable size of 184 was calculated by Cohen's (1977) procedures, was undergraduate Baruch College/CUNY students. The data were analyzed using Keppel's (1982) procedures for testing the interaction and simple effects and by using Fisher's Z procedures for testing significant differences between correlations. A number of statistical techniques were applied such as MANOVA, ANOVA, simple effects, contrast analysis, multiple range tests (Tukey HSD and Scheffe tests), and Pearson correlation.;The research hypotheses were not supported with respect to personal goals and productivity. Personal goal levels were found to be affected (in the expected direction) by self-esteem and types of choice of self-set goals. In addition, personal goal difficulty was found to be affected (in the expected direction) by task specific self-esteem and methods of payment.;Regarding productivity, a significant two-way interaction between types of choice of self-set goals and methods of payment was found. Piece-rate plans influenced productivity (in the expected direction) in the easy- and free-choice goal conditions rather than in the difficult- and no-goal conditions.;In addition, the research hypothesis regarding satisfaction was partially supported. A significant three-way interaction among task-specific self-esteem, methods of payment, and types of choice of self-set goals was found and the result was in the expected direction for high task specific self-esteem subjects only.;Regarding the mechanism of influence, the expectancy theory variables (perceived expectancy and valences of job performance) were able to partially account for the results obtained by this research.;Theoretical and practical implications of the research findings were discussed.
-
Type
-
dissertation
-
Source
-
PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
-
degree
-
Ph.D.
