Social exchange and the relationship between information adequacy and relational satisfaction

Abstract

This study explored the dimensions of information adequacy and relational satisfaction as respectively measured by the Receiving Information and Communication Relationships scale in International Communication Associaton communication audits. Factors from the two scales were subjected to canonical variate analysis in order to determine the efficacy of a social exchange explanation for the relationship between information adequacy and satisfaction. The social exchange model attempts to account for the correlation between adequacy of information on organization‐wide concerns and job satisfaction as well as the correlation between relationship with one's immediate supervisor and job satisfaction. The model regards the immediate supervisor as a central source of information for subordinates whose information expectations may move from job‐centered to organization‐wide concerns. Study results for three samples suggest that the model may not account for the relationship between adequacy of information and satis...