EFFECTS OF STATUS DIFFERENCES, FAVORED TREATMENT AND EQUITY ON INTERGROUP COMPARISONS

Studied the effects of status and treatment differentials on in‐group bias in an intergroup comparison experiment. The status differential conditions were formed by alleged differences in performance on a prior task between in and out‐group. The treatment differential conditions were formed by experimenter's manipulation of a points differential between the in and out‐groups. One hundred and fourteen undergraduates were each assigned to one of nine conditions in a 3 × 3 design of high equal low status and favour no favour disfavour. Results indicate a significant status effect (p < 0.01), with in‐group bias increasing with status, and a significant favour effect (p < 0.01), with in‐group bias decreasing with favour. There is no significant interaction (F < 1). Particular conjunctions of status and treatment represented three conditions oft equity, inequitable advantage, inequitable disadvantage. Contrary to predictions from equity theory, but in accord with predictions from social comparison theory, results indicate in‐group bias in all three conditions. Copyright © 1979 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd