Linking Behavioral and Attitudinal Commitment: A Longitudinal Analysis of Job Choice and Job Attitudes.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to empirically demonstrate the theoretical linkage between behavioral and attitudinal approaches to the study of commitment processes. A longitudinal investigation of the influence of pre-employment behavioral commitments to the job on the development of organizational commitment during the early employment period was undertaken among N = 171 government employees. The results suggest that newly hired employees who perceived they had a high degree of choice in selecting the job and that their choice was not easily revoked reported higher levels of organizational commitment on the first day at work and, to a lesser extent, after one month of employment.