A rejection threshold in justice evaluations: Effects on judgment and decision-making

This research examined the process through which justice evaluations are fo rmed. Using image theory's screening process we hypothesized that a rejecti on threshold exists with regard to violations of just treatment (e.g., layi ng off an employee without notice). If the number of violations exceeds the decision-maker's threshold, a negative justice evaluation results. Nonviol ations (e.g., providing laid-off employees with a generous severance packag e) were hypothesized to only influence justice evaluations when violations do not exceed the threshold. Three studies compared the impact of justice v iolations and nonviolations on fairness evaluations. We also examined diffe rences in fairness evaluations operationalized as judgments vs decisions. R esults indicated that when making judgments about fairness, both violations and nonviolations are equally important. However, when one has to decide o n a course of action based on considerations of fairness, nonviolations are only considered if fewer than three violations have been encountered. Thes e results identify important distinctions between judgment and decisions an d have implication for research examining outcomes of justice evaluations. (C) 1998 Academic Press.