| Abstract: | Three studies with 109 undergraduates tested the predictions that members of exchange relationships would keep track of individual inputs into joint tasks and members of communal relationships would not. In each study, Ss worked on a task with a partner with whom they (a) desired or had a communal relationship or (b) desired or had an exchange relationship. The task involved locating and circling number sequences in a large matrix. Whether Ss used a pen of the same or of a different color from that used by their partner served as the dependent measure. If partners worked with pens of the same color, individual inputs were obsured. If they worked with different color pens, individual inputs were clear. As predicted, in all 3 studies the proportion of Ss in the exchange conditions who chose a different color pen was significantly greater than 50% and was significantly greater than the proportion of Ss in the communal conditions who chose a different color pen. Also as expected, in no study was this percentage greater than 50% in the communal conditions. When Ss anticipated rather than had an existing communal relationship with the other (Study 1), the proportion of communal Ss choosing a different color pen was significantly lower than 50%. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
