The relationship between the psychological contract, trust and organisational commitment in retrenchment survivors.
Date
1998
Authors
Karim, Dilnaaz
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Abstract
The aim of this research was to, firstly, explore the relationship between psychological
contract breach and organisational commitment, and to examine the extent to which trust
mediates this relationship. Secondly, the research aimed to develop and validate a scale to
measure psychological contract breach.
Data was collected from a large organisation that had completed nation-wide
retrenchments. The quantitative sample population consisted of 84 employees in the
organisation, while 10 members of the organisation were interviewed to obtain qualitative
information. A cross-sectional design was used and data was collected by means of
questionnaires and interviews. The process of triangulation was used to provide a deeper
understanding of the relationship being assessed.
The psychological contract breach scale was analysed by means of a factor analysis and
was found to be valid, and the reliability was found to be satisfactory. The results of the
study showed that there is a negative relationship between psychological contract breach
and organisational commitment and that trust does not appear to mediate this relationship.
Explanations for the findings are offered, and the theoretical and practical implications of
the findings are discussed. Finally, limitations of this study and directions for future
research are presented.
Description
A Dissertation submitted to the Psychology Department, University of the
Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the course of the
Degree of Bachelor of Arts with Masters in Industrial Psychology.
Keywords
Downsizing of organizations -- South Africa -- Psychological aspects., Employees -- Dismissal of -- South Africa -- Psychological aspects., Organizational change -- South Africa -- Psychological aspects.