Extensive research has explored apparent differences in task group members'preferences for reward allocation. Some seem to prefer distributions based on equity, others a distribution based on equality. At one time, the research strongly suggested that men tended to prefer equity and women tended to prefer equality. However, in recent years that result has only been inconsistently found Using the conceptual tools of Berger, Fisek, Norman, and Wagner's reward expectation theory, an account of differences in reward preferences based on status positions in the group is developed and tested experimentally. Basically, the reward expectation argument is that group members differentiated by status will prefer equity allocations and members equated (or never differentiated) by status will prefer equality allocations. The results strongly support the reward expectation interpretation.
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