The Influence of Compensation Method and Disclosure Level on Information Search Strategy and Escalation of Commitment

In this study we examined the extent to which compensation method and public disclosure influenced information search strategy and escalation of commitment. A laboratory experiment involving 182 student subjects employed a 3 (compensation: no-pay, salary, and contingent) by 2 (disclosure level: public and private) fully randomized, crossed design. Results show that in light of negative feedback concerning performance results of an investment portfolio, subjects whose initial allocation decisions were announced publicly reduced their search for prospective information, increased the search for retrospective information, and exhibited greater escalation of commitment than subjects who did not announce their initial investment strategy. The search for retrospective information and escalation of commitment was monotonically higher across the no-pay, salary, and contingent pay conditions respectively, while the search for prospective information decreased correspondingly. This study provides evidence that escalation of commitment is positively related to the search for retrospective information and negatively related to the search for prospective information. The results obtained from this experiment complement and extend prior work in the areas of accountability, cognitive dissonance and escalation of commitment. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reconnaissance in the blank areas of religious history

The question of the origin of religion is explored. It is hypothesized that there are two areas where the structure, or fundamental pattern, of religion becomes visible. The first hypothesis is that in the early tribal experience of human beings rites and rules embodied in religion have survival value. The second hypothesis is that for the individual religion replaces the mother as reassurance against the threat of death.Dr. Faber was Professor of Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Psychology at the University of Tilburg, Lindelaan 2, 3951 XT, Maarn, the Netherlands.