Quid Pro Quo Propensity: A Meta-Analytic Examination of Equity Sensitivity and Exchange Ideology

In the present study, we examined whether two exchange-related traits (equity sensitivity and exchange ideology) are correlated to various individual characteristics, social exchange relationships, work attitudes, and behaviors. By meta-analyzing 72 primary studies, we found that equity sensitivity and exchange ideology are negatively related to a number of variables in the organizational behavior literature: (a) individual characteristics, such as trust propensity, positive affect, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability; (b) quality of social exchange variables, such as perceived organizational support and felt obligation; (c) work attitudes, such as job satisfaction and pay satisfaction; and (d) behavioral outcomes, such as organizational citizenship behavior. Based upon our findings, we discuss future research directions pertaining to the explanatory mechanisms for the relationships between exchange-related traits and attitudinal and behavioral outcomes.