This study focused on testing a portion of Kelley and Thibaut's trust-building model. This model asserted that an individual could earn an attribution of dependability by: behaving cooperatively, sharing similar interests, and sharing interdependence with the other person. The model suggested that an individual's competence was a separate factor and that it did not influence the earning of an attribution of dependability. However, the author hypothesized that in military leader-follower relationships, competence was a significant factor in a leader earning an attribution of dependability. In addition, the author hypothesized a strong, positive relationship between a leader's perceived dependability and the follower's willingness to trust the leader. Similarly, the author hypothesized a strong, positive relationship between followers' trust in the leader and their willingness to be influenced (lead) by the leader. The hypotheses were tested using a two-by-two factorial design which manipulated leader's competence and Kelley and Thibaut's three factors for earning an attribution of dependability as one variable. The results supported all hypotheses.

ADA 312244 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)