This article investigates whether self-assessment realistic job previews (RJPs) can improve the adjustment and retention of employees assigned to international expatriate roles. The authors, Jean M. Phillips and Paula M. Caligiuri, utilize organizational psychology frameworks to evaluate how providing candidates with accurate, balanced information about the challenges of working abroad influences their decision-making and subsequent performance. By analyzing the psychological contract between the firm and the expatriate, the study argues that self-selection through realistic previews reduces premature turnover and enhances cross-cultural adaptation.

Experts in human resource management frequently cite this work as a foundational study for understanding the intersection of recruitment psychology and global mobility. Researchers often note the clarity of the authors' methodology in applying RJP theory to the specific, high-stakes context of expatriate assignments.