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Building multi-target commitment through work-integrated learning : The roles of proactive socialization behaviours and organizational socialization domains

This research tested the relationships between 2905 newcomers’ proactive socialization behaviours and two outcomes – organizational socialization domains and unidimensional target-free commitment – in the particular context of short-term contracts prior to graduating. The short-term contracts were four-month work-integrated learning work terms built into a student’s degree requirements. Results from multiple regressions supported the direct relationships between proactive socialization behaviours and two outcomes of organizational socialization domains and unidimensional target-free commitment. In addition, a mediating effect of socialization domains in the relationship between proactive socialization behaviours and commitment (to the team and to the work) was revealed. Findings indicated that even in temporary short-term employment, individuals mastered socialization in organizational domains and developed multiple paths to nurture several links between themselves and their organizations with respect to commitment. The discussion focuses on the theoretical and practical implications of the findings and provides recommendations for future research.

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