Microsoft Word Socialized Choices 31-12 pod docx

Chapter 2 - Theoretical framework and hypotheses 
43 
further on such scientific work, and tries to combine both in its understanding of 
female labour market patterns.  
2.6 
Work preferences and employment behaviour 
The central focus of this study is to examine differences between Dutch mothers’ 
labour market behaviour. In order to understand these differences, the theoretical 
framework of this study incorporates social-psychological and sociological 
theories, to be able to shed light on the internal or attitudinal factors that influence 
behaviour. 
The first part of the theoretical framework addresses the factor that mothers’ 
work preferences influence their labour market decisions. Mothers’ labour market 
behaviour can therefore be studied according to the divided decision to either 
work or stay at home, and so subsequently the number of hours that they choose 
to work. Work preferences are here defined as the number of hours that mothers 
prefer to work, and not mothers’ occupational choices.
17
 The main focus is to 
understand the variety of women’s employment levels, since these are 
particularly divergent in the Netherlands, as opposed to their diverse choices for 
different occupations, although both can be perceived as engendered choices 
(Mandel, 2009).
18
 
The expected relationship between work preferences and labour market 
behaviour has similarities with the theory of planned behaviour of Ajzen and 
Fishbein (1973, 1991, 2005). This theory assumes that the behaviour of most 
interest to social psychology is that which is based on a conscious choice or 
intention. In a particular situation, a person forms a specific intention towards the 
particular behaviour, which subsequently influences their conduct (Ajzen and 
Fishbein, 1973, p.42; Ajzen, 1991, p.182). In other words, intention is an aim that 
guides the action that is to be predicted. At the foundation lies the assumption that 
the stronger the intention to take part in certain behaviour, the more a person will 
be expected perform the behaviour. Ajzen (1991) further recognised that the 
strength of the intention also depends on the degree of volitional control or 
perceived self-efficacy or self-agency (also Bandura, 2001), which concept is 
addressed later in this section. In addition, most behaviour, and this may count 
particularly for the number of work hours, depends at least to some extent on 
other factors which are not necessarily related to motivation, such as the 
availability of requisite opportunities and resources (e.g., time, money, skills and 
the cooperation of others) (Ajzen, 1991, p.182). The acknowledgement that 
behaviour is also dependent on external factors, such as people’s earning capacity 
and their social, professional and care networks (Cunningham, Beutel and 
                                                           
17 
  Question in Dutch: Hoeveel uren per week zou u willen werken? 
18
  To explain the large (much more extensive than employment levels!) variety of occupational 
choices would mean an essentially different kind of research, more linked to personal 
characteristics and educational choices (level and direction), and less to do with, for example, 
economic independence and work or home commitment. 

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Socialized Choices - Labour Market Behaviour of Dutch Mothers 
44 
Thornton, 2005; Tomlinson, 2006) corresponds with micro-economic and 
sociological theories, emphasising the contexts of opportunities and constraints 
wherein action takes place. In other words, it is understood that individuals’ 
behaviour is intertwined with the distributive dimension of the social system, 
reflecting a patterning of the allocation of resources (Layder, 1994). 
Within this study, intention is seen as the number of hours a woman prefers to 
work; that is to say, the number of hours she wants to work. This work preference 
can be viewed as a concrete and personal disposition towards a specific single 
behaviour.
19
 The behaviour in this study is the participation decision, and 
subsequently the number of hours that a Dutch mother actually participates in the 
labour market.
20
 There is therefore a high compatibility between the goal of the 
preferred behaviour and the action itself, reflected via the number of hours 
worked. Accordingly, a high correspondence between the preference and 
behaviour can be expected. Ajzen and Fishbein (1973, 2005) expected a close 
relationship between intention and behaviour, in particular where the principle of 
compatibility is met, which requires that measures of intention and behaviour 
both concern exactly the same action, target, context and time elements (2005, 
p.183).  
Many empirical psychological studies have demonstrated the predictive 
validity of behavioural intentions, for example in drug and condom use, 
prisoners-dilemma, migration or in political voting (Sheeran, 2002). In his meta-
analyses of intent-behavioural studies, Sheeran (2002) reported an overall 
correlation of .53 between intention and behaviour (also Irvine and Evans, 1995). 
Swanborn (1996) described a mean correlation of .62 among 58 studies (p.37). In 
relation to labour market behaviour, empirical studies on the relationship between 
intention/preference and action/behaviour are scarce, although certain studies on 
intentions of migration and entrepreneurship do exist (Carr and Sequeira 2007; 
Kreuger, Reilly and Carsrud, 2000).
21
  For example, Kreuger et al. (2000) have 
shown in their empirical study among 97 North-American senior business 
                                                           
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   “A single behaviour can be viewed as involving an action directed at a target, performed in a 
given context, at a certain point in time” (Ajzen and Fishbein, 2005, p.182). 
20
  Admittedly, there is a difference between a preferred number of work hours and planned or 
intended number of work hours. A preference can be interpreted as a wish - I want that, but I do 
not think it is possible - whereas planned action is defined as intent behaviour that is desired, 
planned and considered possible under the current circumstances. However, within this cross-
sectional study, the preferred behaviour and the overt behaviour are examined at the same time, 
thus I am not able examine whether a planned action is realised after a certain period of time. 
Within this limited context, although I also avoid the risk of a self-fulfilling prophecy, it seems 
more accurate and suitable to understand – at a specific moment in time - whether mothers work 
the number of hours they want to work, rather than to retrospectively examine whether mothers 
work the number of hours they had previously planned to. At the moment of enquiry, it 
immediately becomes clear if there is a discrepancy or correspondence between what mothers 
want and what they actually do. 
21
 
 This empirical study demonstrates that intentions contribute to the explanation of why many 
entrepreneurs decide to start a business long before they learn about the opportunities. 

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