ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R
主办:中国科学院心理研究所
出版:科学出版社

Advances in Psychological Science ›› 2017, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (7): 1103-1113.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1042.2017.01103

• Meta-Analysis • Previous Articles     Next Articles

 The trust repair effect of apology: A systematic review and meta-analysis

 YUAN Bo; DONG Yue; LI Weiqiang   

  1.  (Department of Psychology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China)
  • Received:2016-10-10 Online:2017-07-15 Published:2017-05-26
  • Contact: LI Weiqiang, E-mail: liweiqiang@nbu.edu.cn E-mail:E-mail: liweiqiang@nbu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
     

Abstract:  A meta-analysis was conducted to explore the effect of apology on trust repair, as well as potential moderators of this effect. A literature research yielded 18 qualified papers with 36 effect sizes and 4731 participants. Heterogeneity test indicated that random effects model was appropriate for the meta-analysis. Results showed that apology played a positive effect on trust repair (d = 0.44, p < 0.001). This repair effect was moderated by type of trust violation and type of control group. Compared with the integrity-based trust violation, apology produced a better repair effect on competence-based trust violation. In addition, larger effect was found when silence control group was used than when deny control group was used. No other moderators were found.

Key words:  apology, trust repair, meta-analysis, moderate effect

CLC Number: