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The Effects of Clarity of Decision Rule and Favorability of Verdict on Satisfaction with Resolution of Conflicts 1
Author(s) -
Rusbult Caryl E.,
Musante Linda,
Solomon Michael
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.1982.tb00867.x
Subject(s) - clarity , verdict , psychology , social psychology , decision rule , outcome (game theory) , statistics , mathematics , political science , chemistry , law , mathematical economics , biochemistry
Favorability of outcome and clarity of decision rule were manipulated in a simulated conflict resolved by an impartial third party. Overall, subjects who received favorable outcomes were more satisfied than were those who received unfavorable outcomes. In addition, favorability of verdict and clarity of decision rule interacted in affecting overall satisfaction. Among subjects receiving an unfavorable verdict, those whose outcomes had been determined by a defined decision rule experienced greater satisfaction than those whose outcomes were based on an unclear, undefined rule. However, given a favorable outcome, the effects of clarity of decision rule were reversed‐subjects reported greater satisfaction with the undefined than the defined rule. These results are discussed with reference to the particularism/universalism of defined and undefined decision rules.