A cross‐level study of procedural justice perceptions
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between supervisor‐perceived procedural justice and subordinate‐perceived procedural justice. The moderating roles of the subordinate‐perceived interactional justice and power‐distance value are also to be examined.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey data were obtained from 509 supervisor‐subordinate dyads in mainland China. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to test the research hypotheses.
Findings
Results revealed that: supervisor‐perceived procedural justice is positively related to subordinate‐perceived procedural justice; the direct relationship is stronger when the subordinate perceives higher rather than lower interactional justice from the supervisor; and the direct relationship is stronger when the subordinate holds a higher rather than lower power‐distance value.
Research limitations/implications
The data collected in the present study reside at two hierarchical levels, namely, the employee level and the supervisor level, and the sample size is relatively large. The results are thus less likely subject to common method bias. However, future longitudinal research will be helpful to lend stronger support for the hypothesized causal relationships.
Originality/value
The paper uses cognitive social learning theory in a social exchange context to explain the cross‐level relationship of procedural justice perceptions in organizations, and to identify its boundary conditions. Results support that fairness perceptions at a higher organizational level can be related to lower‐level perceptions along the organizational hierarchy.
Keywords
Citation
Hon, A.H.Y., Yang, J. and Lu, L. (2011), "A cross‐level study of procedural justice perceptions", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 26 No. 8, pp. 700-715. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683941111181789
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited