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Equality ratio equity, general linear equity and framing effects in judgments of allocation divisions
Author(s) -
WAGSTAFF GRAHAM F.,
HUGGINS JOANNA,
PERFECT TIM J.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
european journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1099-0992
pISSN - 0046-2772
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-0992(199601)26:1<29::aid-ejsp733>3.0.co;2-f
Subject(s) - equity (law) , psychology , framing (construction) , economics , contradiction , econometrics , framing effect , social psychology , political science , law , geography , epistemology , archaeology , persuasion , philosophy
It is argued here that there is not necessarily a contradiction between the general linear and equal ratio approaches to equity, and the two may be integrated to make more precise predictions. It was hypothesized that, (a) equity is best represented by a limited equal ratio rule; (b) the more a linear distribution systematically deviates from equal input/outcome ratios, the more unfair it will be judged, but (c) subjects will prefer a distribution that accords with a general linear formula in certain cases where an equal ratio distribution of available outcomes would actually infringe a preeminent or established equal ratio distribution. Four studies are presented, the results of which seem broadly to support these ideas. However, the results also suggest that equity judgments can be strongly influenced by framing effects.