2023 - Full Presentation Schedule
Student Expectations and The Psychological Contracts They Create: A Look at the Effects of a Breach
Abstract
Industrial-Organization psychologists have extensively researched implicit contracts within the work structure. Implicit contracts are unwritten, invisible agreements made within the work structure relationships between employee and employer (Zeitoun & Pamini, 2020). One type of implicit contract that has received significant attention recently is the psychological contract.
Psychological contracts consist of an unspoken agreement between two parties (e.g., employer and employee) based on a belief or perception that outlines expectations and obligations for both parties. These contracts are constructed at the individual and organizational levels (Rousseau, 1989). For example, a new employee may believe they will receive a raise or promotion if they work hard, while the employer would expect that the new employee will perform to the best of their ability.
However, there is no legal documentation binding these agreements. One area of interest regarding psychological contracts is when those implicit contracts are broken. This is referred to as a psychological contract breach. A breach occurs when the employee perceives that they are receiving less than what they were promised by the employer. When the contract is breached, this can lead to withdrawal behaviors and, ultimately, employee turnover (Rousseau, 1989).
While breaches of the contract have been studied in an organizational setting, little research has applied the theory of psychological contracts and their breaches to an academic setting. Recently, a study identified items related to the psychological contract between students and their exchange partners (i.e., University, Faculty, and classmates) that can be applied in a university setting.
The current research used those findings to investigate the impact of a psychological contract breach on college student retention and satisfaction, focusing on understanding the existence of the contract and possible outcomes of a breach. The findings of this study will assist us in understanding factors that affect retention in universities.
Student Expectations and The Psychological Contracts They Create: A Look at the Effects of a Breach
CASB 105 - Psychology
Industrial-Organization psychologists have extensively researched implicit contracts within the work structure. Implicit contracts are unwritten, invisible agreements made within the work structure relationships between employee and employer (Zeitoun & Pamini, 2020). One type of implicit contract that has received significant attention recently is the psychological contract.
Psychological contracts consist of an unspoken agreement between two parties (e.g., employer and employee) based on a belief or perception that outlines expectations and obligations for both parties. These contracts are constructed at the individual and organizational levels (Rousseau, 1989). For example, a new employee may believe they will receive a raise or promotion if they work hard, while the employer would expect that the new employee will perform to the best of their ability.
However, there is no legal documentation binding these agreements. One area of interest regarding psychological contracts is when those implicit contracts are broken. This is referred to as a psychological contract breach. A breach occurs when the employee perceives that they are receiving less than what they were promised by the employer. When the contract is breached, this can lead to withdrawal behaviors and, ultimately, employee turnover (Rousseau, 1989).
While breaches of the contract have been studied in an organizational setting, little research has applied the theory of psychological contracts and their breaches to an academic setting. Recently, a study identified items related to the psychological contract between students and their exchange partners (i.e., University, Faculty, and classmates) that can be applied in a university setting.
The current research used those findings to investigate the impact of a psychological contract breach on college student retention and satisfaction, focusing on understanding the existence of the contract and possible outcomes of a breach. The findings of this study will assist us in understanding factors that affect retention in universities.