Perceived Justice and Group Identification
The Moderating Role of Previous Identification
Abstract
Temporal dynamics have hardly been considered in the fields of organizational justice and group identification, yet addressing intra-individual change trajectories over time may lead to a fuller understanding of the relationship between justice and identification. Therefore, this study investigated the moderating role of previous identification (T1) in the relationship between later perceptions of justice (T2) and later identification (T2). After reviewing two competing and contradictory lines of research, we formed our main hypothesis and tested it with data derived from 109 respondents serving as conscripts in military units. In line with our hypothesis, our results clearly and consistently indicated that the relationship between later perceptions of three forms of supervisory focused justice (procedural, interactional, and distributive justice) and later identification was stronger among those individuals whose prior identification was low. Theoretical implications and managerial ramifications of our findings are discussed.
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