SIOP Organizational Behavior & Performance 4

Question 1

Which concept from social identity theory BEST explains why employees show in-group favoritism toward colleagues from their own department?

Accepted Answer

Intergroup bias driven by group membership identification

Answer

Social identity theory explains that people categorize themselves as group members and favor in-group members to maintain a positive social identity.

Question 2

A cross-functional team repeatedly fails to perform well despite talented members. The MOST likely explanation from a team effectiveness perspective is:

Accepted Answer

Poor process: inadequate coordination, communication, and role clarity

Answer

Team performance failures in skilled teams typically stem from process losses — poor coordination, unclear roles, and ineffective communication — rather than individual capability gaps.

Question 3

Affective commitment to an organization is BEST defined as:

Accepted Answer

An emotional attachment and sense of belonging to the organization

Answer

Affective commitment reflects employees' emotional attachment to and identification with their organization, representing the 'want to stay' component of Meyer and Allen's three-component model.

Question 4

In Lewin's force field analysis, organizational change is facilitated by:

Accepted Answer

Reducing restraining forces or increasing driving forces, or both

Answer

Lewin's model suggests change occurs when the balance of forces shifts — either by strengthening drivers, weakening resistors, or both simultaneously.

Question 5

Which theory of motivation proposes that individuals compare their output-to-input ratio to that of a referent other, and act to restore balance when inequity is perceived?

Accepted Answer

Equity theory

Answer

Adams' Equity Theory posits that perceived unfairness in the ratio of one's contributions to outcomes (compared to a referent) motivates corrective behavior.

(SIOP) Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology Certification Practice Test

(SIOP) Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology Certification Practice Test

SIOP Organizational Behavior & Performance 4