Cleaning Up the Big Muddy: A Meta-Analytic Review of the Determinants of Escalation of Commitment

The topic of escalation of commitment has intrigued the organizational sciences for over 35 years. A variety of theoretical explanations have been offered for why escalation occurs, and numerous constructs have been examined as antecedents of escalation behavior. However, little effort has been made to systematically investigate these various accounts. Using meta-analysis, we present a comprehensive overview of the many determinants found in the literature, an analysis of the power of different theoretical perspectives, and an examination of the relative efficacy of the various theories. Drawing on our findings, we offer advice to managers and guidance for future research directions.