Voiceless: The effects of unfair procedures on recipients and observers in small groups

This study examined the effects of procedural fairness (fair and unfair) and type of conflict (cognitive conflict vs. conflict of interest) on members' perceptions of group process, performance and group value. Although there was a main effect for fairness, a procedural fairness by conflict type interaction demonstrated fairness was more important when groups were accomplishing a task for which members had conflict of interest. Excluded members and non-excluded members witnessing unfair procedures were less satisfied with the process, performance and group value than were participants in the fair conditions.