This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kelly, C. Articles by Kelly, J. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Who Gets Involved in Collective Action?: Social Psychological Determinants of Individual Participation in Trade Unions

Department of Psychology, Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX

John Kelly

Department of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, University of London, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE

This study examined social psychological factors associated with willingness to participate in collective action. These factors were group identification, collectivist orientation, outgroup stereotyping, perceived intergroup conflict, egoistic and collective relative deprivation, and political efficacy. Three hundred and fifty members of a trade union completed questionnaires where items measured these factors along with their prospective participation in a range of union activities. Regression analyses indicated that the most significant correlate of participation was the strength of the respondent's sense of group identification. Other significant correlates were collectivist orientation and the degree to which the outgroup (management) was perceived in a stereotypical fashion. Further analyses were undertaken to examine the possible moderating effect of group identification on the relationships between independent and dependent variables. These indicated a broadly similar pattern of results for both strong and weak group identifiers though collective relative deprivation appeared to be somewhat more important for strong identifiers and political efficacy somewhat more important for weak identifiers. These findings are discussed in the context of research into social identity and collective action in other settings.

Key Words: group identification • collectivism • stereotyping • intergroup conflict • relative deprivation • efficacy

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. L. Blader What Leads Organizational Members to Collectivize? Injustice and Identification as Precursors of Union Certification Organization Science, January 1, 2007; 18(1): 108 - 126. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. Redman and E. Snape Kindling Activism? Union Commitment and Participation in the UK Fire Service Human Relations, July 1, 2004; 57(7): 845 - 869. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Sturmer and B. Simon The Role of Collective Identification in Social Movement Participation: A Panel Study in the Context of the German Gay Movement Pers Soc Psychol Bull, March 1, 2004; 30(3): 263 - 277. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. Blackwood, G. Lafferty, J. Duck, and D. Terry Putting the Group Back into Unions: A Social Psychological Contribution to Understanding Union Support Journal of Industrial Relations, December 1, 2003; 45(4): 485 - 504. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. M. Frege Transforming German Workplace Relations: Quo Vadis Cooperation? Economic and Industrial Democracy, August 1, 2003; 24(3): 317 - 347. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Carpenter and P. Radhakrishnan The Relation between Allocentrism and Perceptions of Ingroups Pers Soc Psychol Bull, November 1, 2002; 28(11): 1528 - 1537. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Brunsting and T. Postmes Social Movement Participation in the Digital Age: Predicting Offline and Online Collective Action Small Group Research, October 1, 2002; 33(5): 525 - 554. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. M. Frege Understanding Union Effectiveness in Central Eastern Europe: Hungary and Slovenia European Journal of Industrial Relations, March 1, 2002; 8(1): 53 - 76. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. R. Tyler and S. L. Blader Identity and Cooperative Behavior in Groups Group Processes Intergroup Relations, July 1, 2001; 4(3): 207 - 226. [Abstract] [PDF]

				I. Robinson Neoliberal Restructuring and U.S. Unions: Toward Social Movement Unionism? Crit Sociol, January 1, 2000; 26(1-2): 109 - 138. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. M. Frege Institutional Transfer and Effectiveness of Employee Representation: Comparing Works Councils in East and West Germany Economic and Industrial Democracy, August 1, 1998; 19(3): 475 - 504. [Abstract]

				P. C. Earley and C. B. Gibson Taking Stock in Our Progress on Individualism-Collectivism: 100 Years of Solidarity and Community Journal of Management, June 1, 1998; 24(3): 265 - 304. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. D. Iverson and D. M. Buttigieg Antecedents of Union Commitment: The Impact of Union Membership Differences in Vertical Dyads and Work Group Relationships Human Relations, December 1, 1997; 50(12): 1485 - 1510. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. M. Beaton and F. Tougas The Representation of Women in Management: The more, the Merrier? Pers Soc Psychol Bull, July 1, 1997; 23(7): 773 - 782. [Abstract]