Academics' Psychological Contract: Applying Discretionary Effort
Saved in:
| Title: | Academics' Psychological Contract: Applying Discretionary Effort |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Alan Johnston (ORCID |
| Source: | Journal of Further and Higher Education. 2025 49(4):524-538. |
| Availability: | Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 15 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research Tests/Questionnaires |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Psychological Patterns, Contracts, Performance Contracts, Higher Education, College Faculty, Teacher Attitudes, Business Schools, Teacher Administrator Relationship, Expectation, Compliance (Psychology) |
| DOI: | 10.1080/0309877X.2025.2467396 |
| ISSN: | 0309-877X 1469-9486 |
| Abstract: | Limited research has been conducted on the academic psychological contract and the role it plays in influencing academic behaviour. This qualitative study investigated the impact that the psychological contract has on 18 academics working across 9 university business schools, by understanding how they perceive the employment relationship, and how this perception influences their work activities with a particular focus on the application of discretionary effort. The research conducted followed an interpretivist design using semi-structured questions to seek out the lived experience of the academics. Findings suggest that discretionary effort is focused on what individuals perceive as being or not being academic work, but is not readily recognised as such; instead, it is considered part of the job, suggesting that perhaps it may be considered induced and is an outcome of increased managerialism in the sector. The outcomes of this research provide an interesting insight into the workings of academics and as such should enable improvements in the employment relationship between academics and their host university. The research investigates the construct of the psychological contract from a different perspective. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1498151 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Limited research has been conducted on the academic psychological contract and the role it plays in influencing academic behaviour. This qualitative study investigated the impact that the psychological contract has on 18 academics working across 9 university business schools, by understanding how they perceive the employment relationship, and how this perception influences their work activities with a particular focus on the application of discretionary effort. The research conducted followed an interpretivist design using semi-structured questions to seek out the lived experience of the academics. Findings suggest that discretionary effort is focused on what individuals perceive as being or not being academic work, but is not readily recognised as such; instead, it is considered part of the job, suggesting that perhaps it may be considered induced and is an outcome of increased managerialism in the sector. The outcomes of this research provide an interesting insight into the workings of academics and as such should enable improvements in the employment relationship between academics and their host university. The research investigates the construct of the psychological contract from a different perspective. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0309-877X 1469-9486 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/0309877X.2025.2467396 |
