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Abstract

The Staw (1976) study and the Bazerman, et al. (1984) study showed that individuals responsible for negative consequences consistently escalated their commitment to the previously chosen course of action. The present study attempted to replicate the escalation of commitment phenomenon. Staw's experimental procedures for the condition of high responsibility and negative feedback were followed. The present sample consisted of 93 university students. Analysis showed that there was no escalation of commitment following negative feedback. There was a significant reduction in commitment following the initial allocations to the Industrial Products Division. Possible interpretations for the inconsistent findings were proposed.

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References

Bazerman

M. H.

Giuliano

Appelman

Escalation of commitment in individual and group decision making. Organisational Behaviour and Human Performance, 1984, 33, 141–152.

Brockner

Nathanson

Friend

Harbeck

Samuelson

Houser

Bazerman

M. H.

Rubin

The role of modeling processes in the “Knee deep in the big muddy” phenomenon. Organisational Behaviour and Human Performance, 1984, 33, 77–99.

Staw

B. M.

Knee deep in the big muddy: Study of escalating commitment to a chosen course of action. Organisational Behaviour and Human Performance, 1976, 16, 27–44.

Varca

P. E.

Levy

J. C.

Individual differences in response to unfavourable group feedback. Organisational Behaviour and Human Performance, 1984, 33, 100–111.

Is There Always Escalation of Commitment?

Abstract

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References