Trust and public sector work: How public service motivation helps explain multi-level trust relations

Charis Rice; Rosalind Searle; Ann-Marie Nienaber

doi:10.4337/9781802201406

Trust and public sector work: How public service motivation helps explain multi-level trust relations

Charis Rice
, Rosalind Searle
, Ann-Marie Nienaber

Research Centre for Peace and Security

University of Glasgow
Adam Smith Business School

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

33 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This chapter explores the relationship between Public Service Motivation (PSM) and trust within public organisations. It provides an overview of the existing literature, structuring this around the interpersonal, intergroup, and organisational levels of analysis. The review points to a reciprocal relationship between trust and PSM, highlighting shared theoretical foundations and empirical insights across these two concepts, such as the importance of aligned values and common ground. The challenges and barriers in cultivating PSM and trust are considered within the context of contemporary public sector work, and avenues for further research outlined, namely that of cross-level trickle effects.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Handbook of Trust in Public Governance
Editors	Frédérique Six , Joseph A. Hamm, Dominika Latusek, Esther van Zimmeren, Koen Verhoest
Publisher	Edward Elgar
Chapter	26
Pages	425-439
Number of pages	15
Edition	1
ISBN (Electronic)	9781802201406
ISBN (Print)	9781802201390
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802201406
Publication status	Published - 13 Mar 2025

Bibliographical note

© Frédérique Six, Joseph A. Hamm, Dominika Latusek, Esther van Zimmeren and Koen Verhoest 2025. All rights reserved.
Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

Keywords

Public service motivation
Multi-level
Public sector work
Public sector organisations

Themes

Governance, Leadership and Trust

Access to Document

10.4337/9781802201406

Rice2025AAMAccepted author manuscript, 502 KB

Cite this

Trust and public sector work: How public service motivation helps explain multi-level trust relations. / Rice, Charis; Searle, Rosalind; Nienaber, Ann-Marie.
Handbook of Trust in Public Governance. ed. / Frédérique Six ; Joseph A. Hamm; Dominika Latusek; Esther van Zimmeren; Koen Verhoest. 1. ed. Edward Elgar, 2025. p. 425-439.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

@inbook{d0f4e532a3624645a55d001e275e229f,

title = "Trust and public sector work: How public service motivation helps explain multi-level trust relations",

abstract = "This chapter explores the relationship between Public Service Motivation (PSM) and trust within public organisations. It provides an overview of the existing literature, structuring this around the interpersonal, intergroup, and organisational levels of analysis. The review points to a reciprocal relationship between trust and PSM, highlighting shared theoretical foundations and empirical insights across these two concepts, such as the importance of aligned values and common ground. The challenges and barriers in cultivating PSM and trust are considered within the context of contemporary public sector work, and avenues for further research outlined, namely that of cross-level trickle effects. ",

keywords = "Public service motivation, Multi-level, Public sector work, Public sector organisations",

author = "Charis Rice and Rosalind Searle and Ann-Marie Nienaber",

note = " {\textcopyright} Fr{\'e}d{\'e}rique Six, Joseph A. Hamm, Dominika Latusek, Esther van Zimmeren and Koen Verhoest 2025. All rights reserved. Copyright {\textcopyright} and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. ",

year = "2025",

month = mar,

day = "13",

doi = "10.4337/9781802201406",

language = "English",

isbn = "9781802201390",

pages = "425--439",

editor = "\{Six \}, \{ Fr{\'e}d{\'e}rique \} and Hamm, \{Joseph A. \} and Latusek, \{Dominika \} and \{van Zimmeren\}, \{ Esther \} and Koen Verhoest",

booktitle = "Handbook of Trust in Public Governance",

publisher = "Edward Elgar",

address = "United Kingdom",

edition = "1",

}

TY - CHAP

T1 - Trust and public sector work

T2 - How public service motivation helps explain multi-level trust relations

AU - Rice, Charis

AU - Searle, Rosalind

AU - Nienaber, Ann-Marie

N1 - © Frédérique Six, Joseph A. Hamm, Dominika Latusek, Esther van Zimmeren and Koen Verhoest 2025. All rights reserved. Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

PY - 2025/3/13

Y1 - 2025/3/13

N2 - This chapter explores the relationship between Public Service Motivation (PSM) and trust within public organisations. It provides an overview of the existing literature, structuring this around the interpersonal, intergroup, and organisational levels of analysis. The review points to a reciprocal relationship between trust and PSM, highlighting shared theoretical foundations and empirical insights across these two concepts, such as the importance of aligned values and common ground. The challenges and barriers in cultivating PSM and trust are considered within the context of contemporary public sector work, and avenues for further research outlined, namely that of cross-level trickle effects.

AB - This chapter explores the relationship between Public Service Motivation (PSM) and trust within public organisations. It provides an overview of the existing literature, structuring this around the interpersonal, intergroup, and organisational levels of analysis. The review points to a reciprocal relationship between trust and PSM, highlighting shared theoretical foundations and empirical insights across these two concepts, such as the importance of aligned values and common ground. The challenges and barriers in cultivating PSM and trust are considered within the context of contemporary public sector work, and avenues for further research outlined, namely that of cross-level trickle effects.

KW - Public service motivation

KW - Multi-level

KW - Public sector work

KW - Public sector organisations

U2 - 10.4337/9781802201406

DO - 10.4337/9781802201406

M3 - Chapter

SN - 9781802201390

SP - 425

EP - 439

BT - Handbook of Trust in Public Governance

A2 - Six , Frédérique

A2 - Hamm, Joseph A.

A2 - Latusek, Dominika

A2 - van Zimmeren, Esther

A2 - Verhoest, Koen

PB - Edward Elgar

ER -