SENIORITY-BASED REWARD ALLOCATION IN THE UNITED-STATES AND TAIWAN

Despite the apparent pervasiveness of seniority as a basis for distrib uting group rewards, this variable has been relatively neglected by so cial scientists interested in allocation processes. Three experiments conducted in the United States and Taiwan examined the allocation of g roup rewards to individuals differing in seniority level, social-emoti onal competence, and task competence. The results demonstrated that in addition to merit -- greater rewards being distributed to individuals with superior task competence and social competence--seniority level was a robust determinant of reward allocation. The results supported t he proposition that seniority influences allocations in part because o f the assumed covariation of seniority with competence, and revealed e vidence of culture-specific values. Seniority, however, was a relative ly pervasive determinant of allocation behavior among both American an d Chinese allocators, regardless of recipients' social competence, tas k competence, and sex. Thus seniority appears to be quite a general no rmative basis for reward allocation.