INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL COMPARISONS OF OUTCOMES AND PROCEDURES ON FAIRNESS JUDGMENTS

This study investigated the effects of social comparisons of outcomes and procedures on fairness judgments. Participants performed 1 of 2 ta sks with which they could earn a bonus. Three variables were manipulat ed: participant's control over task choice (present vs. absent), compa rison other's control over task choice (present vs. absent), and compa rison other's outcome (high vs. low). All participants were informed t hat they themselves earned a low outcome. The dependent variable was p articipants' judgments of the fairness of the way in which the experim ent was conducted. Two 2-way interactions were predicted and found, on e involving the participant's control and the comparison other's outco me and the other involving the participant's control and the compariso n other's control.