Reward allocation in task-performing groups.

Abstract

Three situational variables were varied to assess the relative weight given to equity and equality principles in reward allocations in task-performing groups:(a) the functional relation between individual and group performance (additive, conjunctive, or disjunctive), (b) the amount of variation among performances of individual members, and (c) the purpose of the allocation. In 2 studies, participants were asked to allocate rewards among 3 performers in a hypothetical situation; in a third study, participants actually performed a task and were asked to allocate rewards to themselves and the other group members. The 3 studies produced two strikingly similar results: (a) equity was given more weight relative to equality when input variation was small rather than large, and (b) the disjunctive relation, when the performance of one member was critical to group success, led to more equitable allocations than did the additive or conjunctive relation.