Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Need for Cognition and its Effects on Equity Theory Predictions

Bookmyer, Eric Daniel
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1434730846

Abstract Details

2015, Master of Arts (M.A.), Xavier University, Psychology.
Despite the growing trend in workplace applications of need for cognition (NC) on decision making, a gap still exists in its applications to other areas of I-O psychology. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the individual difference of NC on equity theory predictions. This study consisted of a sample of 225 Mechanical Turk participants who completed a 32-item survey measuring their NC level and perceptions of equity and satisfaction based on a hypothetical scenario. Results indicated no significant differences between NC level and the amount of information utilized in the equity comparison process, contrary to predictions. Additionally, there were no significant differences between NC level on perceptions of distributive justice. The present study did, however, further support equity theory predictions by indicating lowered distributive justice in the underpayment and overpayment conditions and higher distributive justice in the equitable payment condition. Supplemental analyses were also conducted into pay satisfaction, which found that those low in NC were more satisfied in an underpayment condition than those high in NC. This research has implications on the workplace suggesting that employers should strive to compensate employees equitably to achieve the highest distributive justice perceptions. Additionally, results suggest that employers may want to consider an employee’s NC level when focusing on pay satisfaction, and this is an area that future research should further examine.
Mark Nagy, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Dalia Diab, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Morell Mullins, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
93 p.
Behavioral Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Occupational Psychology; Organizational Behavior; Psychology; Social Psychology
equity theory; need for cognition; equity; distributive justice; pay satisfaction; decision making; mechanical turk; MTurk; equity perceptions; workplace; individual differences; organizational behavior

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Bookmyer, E. D. (2015). Need for Cognition and its Effects on Equity Theory Predictions [Master's thesis, Xavier University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1434730846

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Bookmyer, Eric. Need for Cognition and its Effects on Equity Theory Predictions. 2015. Xavier University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1434730846.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Bookmyer, Eric. "Need for Cognition and its Effects on Equity Theory Predictions." Master's thesis, Xavier University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1434730846

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

xavier1434730846
479
© 2015, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Xavier University Psychology and OhioLINK.