An Attributional Analysis of Interpersonal Justice: Ability and Effort as Inputs in the Allocation of Gain and Loss

Abstract

Summary Existing versions of equity theory offer no satisfactory basis for predicting which of two contributions (e.g., ability, effort) to a jointly produced outcome is perceived as more relevant and is thus given greater consideration in allocation decisions. Further, equity theory does not address the issue of whether negative outcomes (losses) are allocated differently from positive outcomes (gains). Drawing on attribution theory, we hypothesized that allocators 1) take effort more into account than ability, and 2) take between-member contribution differences more into account in gain than in loss conditions. Male and female Ss (N = 120) were asked to distribute financial gains or losses between the two members of a hypothetical performance team who contributed different or equal amounts of effort and ability to the team product. The findings supported Hypothesis 1; only tangential evidence was obtained for Hypothesis 2.