Testing Leader–Member Exchange Theory as a Lens to Understand Students’ Classroom Justice Perceptions and Antisocial Communication

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test whether leader–member exchange theory (LMX) offers an explanatory lens for the program of classroom justice research. To that end, relationships among justice, LMX, and antisocial communication were explored. Findings indicated that perceptions of justice and LMX were positively related. Likewise, perceptions of interactional and procedural justice negatively predicted indirect interpersonal aggression, hostility, and revenge. Similarly, LMX perceptions were negatively related to students’ hostility and revenge and mediated the relationships between students’ perceptions of distributive justice and these outcomes. LMX also moderated the relationships between students’ perceptions of classroom justice and indirect interpersonal aggression and deception. Implications, limitations, and future research are discussed.

Keywords:

• Deception
• Hostility
• Instructional Theory
• Justice
• Leader–Member Exchange

Notes

Note. LMX–7 = Leader–Member Exchange 7 Scale (Graen & Uhl–Bien, 1995).

*p < .05.

Note. Beta weights are for the models when all predictor variables are entered, whereas the model statistics are for the blocks as they were individually entered.

*p ≤ .05.

Note. Beta weights are for the models when all predictor variables are entered, whereas the model statistics are for the blocks as they were individually entered.

*p ≤ .05. **p < .10.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sean M. Horan

Sean M. Horan (Ph.D., West Virginia University, 2009) is an Assistant Professor in the College of Communication at DePaul University.

Rebecca M. Chory

Rebecca M. Chory (Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2000) is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at West Virginia University.

Shannon T. Carton

Shannon T. Carton (M.A., DePaul University, 2012) is Doctoral Student in Communication Studies at West Virginia University.

Erin Miller

Erin Miller (M.A., DePaul University, 2012) is a communication professional in Chicago, IL.

Peter C. J. Raposo

Rev. Peter C. J. Raposo (M.A., Sikkim Manipal University and M.A., DePaul University) is a Catholic Priest and doctoral student at Ohio University.