Construal Level Theory and Virtual Teams: The Effect of Virtuality on Psychological Distance, Construal Level, and Causal Attributions

Abstract

Many different theories have been used to predict the effects different facets of virtuality can have on teams. Construal Level Theory (CLT) is more parsimonious in that it provides one mechanism for various facets. This study tested hypotheses based on CLT to examine how being part of a virtual or collocated team affected psychological distance, construal level, and causal attributions. Two-hundred eighty-seven participants read vignettes that places them in either a virtual or collocated team. Inclusion of situational information that could account for a problem that occurred in each vignette was also manipulated. Results showed that there was a significant effect of team type on psychological distance, but not on construal level or causal attributions. The presence of situational information did not affect the types of causal attributions made. The implications of these results are discussed.