INSTITUTIONAL LEGITIMACY AND PROCEDURAL JUSTICE - REEXAMINING THE QUESTION OF CAUSALITY

Tyler and Rasinski (1991) challenge Gibson's (1989) contention that pe rceptions of procedural justice do not influence citizens' compliance with unpopular Supreme Court rulings. Noting a significant correlation between procedural justice and institutional legitimacy, Tyler and Ra sinski argue that perceptions of procedural justice exert indirect inf luence on compliance. In response, Gibson (1991) questions Tyler and R asinski's interpretation of the causal relationship linking institutio nal legitimacy and perceptions of procedural justice. Although both si des in this dispute offer persuasive discussion, neither can advance c onclusive empirical evidence regarding the question of causality. This note presents a reexamination of the relationship between institution al legitimacy and procedural justice, with data drawn from an experime nt designed specifically to address the question of causality. Results do not enable conclusive assessment of the Gibson hypothesis. However , in contrast to the Tyler-Rasinski hypothesis, no evidence is found s upporting the contention that perceptions of procedural justice influe nce perceptions of institutional legitimacy.