Social exchange and causal attributions

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the relationship between social exchange and attributions within a non-negotiated exchange setting. Two general questions are the focus of attention in this effort to understand the relationship between social exchange and attributions. The first question investigates how the structure and process of exchange influences the internal/external attributions by actors. The second question investigates the influence of the internal/external dimension of causal attributions on exchange behavior. Hypotheses are developed about the effects of exchange on attributions, as well as the effects of attributions on exchange. The first question was addressed by using existing experimental data. To address the second question a new experiment was designed and conducted. Analyses of these experimental results investigate the link between social exchange and attributions.