Assessing psychological contracts: issues, alternatives and measures

Abstract

This article addresses the state-of-the-art of assessment methodologies in the study of psychological contracts. Three types of assessment have been employed in research using a psychological contracts framework. Content measures focus upon the terms of the psychological contract individuals are party to. Feature measures assess the attributes of the psychological contract itself including explicit/implicit and static/dynamic, and at present are a relatively undeveloped form of assessment contract. Evaluation measures are the comparative judgements individuals make in the context of their psychological contract, including the degree to which it has been fulfilled or violated. Implications for future research are described, along with the advantages of both quantitative and qualitative assessments. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.