Evidence for ideological currency in psychological contracts?
Vantilborgh, T., Torfs, G., Pepermans, R., Willems, J., & Jegers, M.
14th EUROPEAN CONGRESS ON WORK AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
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1. Research question
“What does the psychological contract of volunteers look like?”
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1. Research question
“What does the psychological contract of volunteers look like?”
Subjective beliefs regarding an exchange agreement between an individual and, in organizations typically, the employing firm and its agents (Rousseau, 1995).
Subjective beliefs regarding an exchange agreement between an individual and, in organizations typically, the employing firm and its agents (Rousseau, 1995).
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1. Research question
“What does the psychological contract of volunteers look like?”
Voluntary work is performed out of free will; is not remunerated but does allow for certain benefits or reimbursements; is carried out on a regular basis, thus excluding one-time activities; is established by a formal organization, different than the own household or other familiar relationships; creates additional value or adds to the goal(s) of the employing organization (Hartenian, 2007; Ziemek, 2006; Anheier, 2005).
Voluntary work is performed out of free will; is not remunerated but does allow for certain benefits or reimbursements; is carried out on a regular basis, thus excluding one-time activities; is established by a formal organization, different than the own household or other familiar relationships; creates additional value or adds to the goal(s) of the employing organization (Hartenian, 2007; Ziemek, 2006; Anheier, 2005).
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1. Research question
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2. Psychological contracts
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Thompson & Bunderson (2003):
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3. Role of ideology
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Thompson & Bunderson (2003):
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3. Role of ideology
“The organization gives me a fair
day’s pay for a fair day’s work”
“The organization nurtures my professional
development and sense of
community”
“The organization shares my
passion, cause and/or mission”
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Thompson & Bunderson (2003):
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3. Role of ideology
Ideology is important motivator for volunteers (Bussel & Forbes, 2001)
Values play an important role in non-profit organizations (De Cooman, De Gieter, Pepermans, & Jegers, 2008)
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Evidence for ideological currency in the psychological contracts of volunteers?
Evidence for ideological currency in the psychological contracts of volunteers?
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4. Method - Procedure
Assess the content of volunteers’ psychological contracts using critical incident technique (CIT) (Herriot, Manning, & Kidd,1997)
Unit of analysis: CIT examples
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An incident at a volunteers’ organization where the organization or the volunteer fulfilled or fell short of what they were obligated to the other party
An incident at a volunteers’ organization where the organization or the volunteer fulfilled or fell short of what they were obligated to the other party
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4. Method - Procedure
1. Use “obligations” instead of “expectations”2. Embed CIT in semi-structured interviews3. 8 conditions:
• Time: start of volunteering activities versus now• Direction: volunteer obligations versus organization obligations• Result: breached versus fulfilled
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“Can you give me an example of a situation during the start of your volunteering activities in which your employer did not fulfill an obligation to you?”
“Can you give me an example of a situation during the start of your volunteering activities in which your employer did not fulfill an obligation to you?”
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4. Method - Sample
Participants:
• 18 volunteers• Age: 21-52 (M:33.38, SD:10.48)• Education:
• master (44,44%)• bachelor (22,22%)• secondary school(27,78%)• primary school (5,56%)
Participants:
• 18 volunteers• Age: 21-52 (M:33.38, SD:10.48)• Education:
• master (44,44%)• bachelor (22,22%)• secondary school(27,78%)• primary school (5,56%)
Organizations:
• AFS: An organization that organizes exchange programs for youth• Red Cross Youth: An organization that organizes activities for children and adolescents• Oxfam: An organization devoted to fairtrade• GAIA: An organization devoted to the well-being and rights of animals
Organizations:
• AFS: An organization that organizes exchange programs for youth• Red Cross Youth: An organization that organizes activities for children and adolescents• Oxfam: An organization devoted to fairtrade• GAIA: An organization devoted to the well-being and rights of animals
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117 critical incidents (average per person: 6.5)117 critical incidents (average per person: 6.5)
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5. Results – step 1
Steps in analysis:1. Coding by 2 independent raters
• Raters coded currency of the psychological contract• Raters were familiar with psychological contract theory• Received training (theory + trials)• After initial coding, raters discussed critical incidents on which
they did not agree and attempted to reach a consensus• Cohen’s Kappa assessed interrater reliability
2. Coded currencies are compared across conditions
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5. Results – step 1
Currency
Observed Kappa= .48Maximum possible Kappa= .8895% Confidence Interval = [.34 - .62]
Observed Kappa= .97Maximum possible Kappa= 1.0095% Confidence Interval = [.93 – 1.00]
Currency
Observed Kappa= .48Maximum possible Kappa= .8895% Confidence Interval = [.34 - .62]
Observed Kappa= .97Maximum possible Kappa= 1.0095% Confidence Interval = [.93 – 1.00]
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5. Results – step 2
Steps in analysis:1. Coding by 2 independent raters
• Raters code terms and currency of the psychological contract• Raters were familiar with psychological contract theory• Received training (theory + trials)• After initial coding, raters discussed critical incidents on which
they did not agree and attempted to reach a consensus• Cohen’s Kappa assessed interrater reliability
2. Coded currencies are compared across conditions
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5. Results – step 2
• Frequencies of:• Currency across all
conditions
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5. Results – step 2
• Frequencies of:• Currency between
conditions of time
The percentage of currencies reported did not differ in time (χ²(2)=.96 , p > .05)
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5. Results – step 2
• Frequencies of:• Currency between
conditions of direction
The percentage of currencies reported differed in direction (χ²(2)=10.06 , p < .01)
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5. Results – step 2
• Frequencies of:• Currency between
conditions of result
The percentage of currencies reported differed in result (χ²(2)=6.71 , p < .05)
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6. Discussion
• Ideological currency was clearly prevalent in several reported incidents
• However, ideological currency was not the most prevalent currency: socio-emotional currency remains important for volunteers
• Ideology should not be overlooked when studying content of psychological contracts, especially for volunteers
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6. Limitations & implications
• Limitations:• Sample • Critical Incidents Technique
• Implications for research: • Attention for ideological currency• Instrument measuring ideological component needed?
• Implications for practice:• Provide feedback on contribution to mission / values / cause• Make sure that actions or policies are in lign with mission / values /
cause
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Thank you for
your attention
Thank you for
your attention
Questions?
Questions?