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Referent Networks and Distributive Justice

Advances in Group Processes

ISBN: 978-1-78441-078-0

Publication date: 1 January 2014

Abstract

Purpose

This study examines how the structure of referent networks, or the social network defined by knowing others’ reward levels, affects perceptions of distributive justice. The homogeneity of rewards in the referent network, the amount of inequality in the referent network, and an individual’s reward level are all associated with distributive justice perceptions. Several moderating relationships are also examined.

Methodology/Approach

We relied on data from a controlled laboratory experiment to test a series of theoretically derived hypotheses.

Findings

The study shows that several aspects about the structure of the referent network are important for shaping perceptions of distributive justice. Specifically, the reward heterogeneity and amount of inequality in the network are found to be negatively associated with distributive justice, while reward levels are found to be positively associated with distributive justice. Furthermore, the effect of reward levels on distributive justice is moderated by both (i) the presence of a referential standard for rewards and (ii) the amount of inequality in the network.

Research Limitations/Implications

While being among the first studies to demonstrate effects of referent networks on perceptions of fairness, it is unclear how group memberships combine with referent network effects and which factors may blur these relationships in uncontrolled environments. Subsequent scholarship on the effect of referent networks on justice perceptions should leverage multiple data sources.

Originality/Value of Chapter

Research on the effects of referents on justice perceptions has focused on particular referent individuals. We recast this issue in terms of referent networks, which highlights the empirical reality that individuals have a variety of sources or alters which could operate as referents.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgments

Portions of this chapter were presented at the Departments of Sociology at the University of Georgia and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and the annual meetings of the Southern Sociological Society. We thank the participants of those events, Karen Hegtvedt, Barry Markovsky, and Scott Savage for helpful comments and suggestions on this research. This research was supported by the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Carolina.

Citation

Melamed, D., Park, H., Zhong, J. and Liu, Y. (2014), "Referent Networks and Distributive Justice", Advances in Group Processes (Advances in Group Processes, Vol. 31), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 241-262. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0882-614520140000031006

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2014 Emerald Group Publishing Limited