The Psychological Contract’s Role in Employee Involvement: A Bibliometric Perspective

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the scholarly literature on the impact of psychological contracts on employee involvement. Utilizing data from the Dimensions AI database, we systematically examine publication trends, authorship patterns, and thematic areas within this field. Psychological contracts, which encompass the unspoken expectations and obligations between employees and employers, play a crucial role in shaping employee commitment, job satisfaction, and overall organizational performance. Our analysis reveals significant growth in publications over the past two decades, highlighting increased academic interest in this area. Key findings include the identification of prominent authors and institutions contributing to the literature, as well as the evolution of research focus from foundational theories to contemporary issues such as the psychological contract's role in employee engagement and organizational change. Emerging themes identified in the analysis include perceived organizational support, psychological contract breaches, and the integration of employee commitment with quality management practices. The study underscores the importance of understanding psychological contracts to foster positive employment relationships and enhance organizational outcomes. By mapping the existing literature, this study provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners, identifying gaps and suggesting directions for future research. Our findings contribute to the broader discourse on organizational psychology and underscore the need for further exploration into the dynamic nature of psychological contracts in the evolving workplace. This study did not involve human or animal subjects, and thus did not require approval from a research ethics committee, as it solely relied on publicly available bibliometric data.