Abstract

Although the concept of relevance of inputs and outcomes play central roles in equity theory, they have not been clearly grasped which inputs and outcomes are perceived more importantly. The present study attempted to infer relevance of effort and ability among inputs from the subjects' allocation and relevance of ecomomic reward and achievement-related reward by asking fairness perception and satisfaction. We examined the weight of inputs and outcomes in Korea and America. Effort was weighted more importantly than ability in Korea and America. For fairness perception, economic reward was weighted more importantly than achievement-related reward in Korea, whereas achivement-related reward was weighted more importantly than economic reward in America. Korean students preferred equality allocation and American students preferred equity allocation. The results were discussed with regard to the weight of inputs and outcomes and preference of allocation principle.