Utilizing Dimensions of the Rotter Interpersonal Trust Scale in Investigations of Trust: Validation of Suggested Methods

Abstract

Several authors have suggested that the Rotter Interpersonal Trust Scale may be employed in studies examining trust with more success if the factors or dimensions of the instrument are used rather than the general scale. The present investigation concerned the relationship between the dimension “Interpersonal Exploitation” and group cohesiveness, and the dimension “Reliable-role Performance” and group cohesiveness. Group composition according to these dimensions resulted in different levels of group cohesiveness, with groups heterogeneously comprised on the basis of subjects' scores on the dimensions significantly more cohesive than homogeneously comprised groups. A dimensional approach to the examination of interpersonal trust may be viable in other settings where the variables of interest are theoretically related to the dimensions of the Rotter Interpersonal Trust Scale.