Escalating Commitment: Business Investments and CSR

Author

Victoria Forrest, University of New Hampshire, DurhamFollow
John Hasseldine Ph.D, University of New Hampshire, DurhamFollow

Date of Award

Spring 2016

Project Type

Senior Honors Thesis

College or School

PAUL

Department

Accounting and Finance

Program or Major

Accounting and Business Management

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

First Advisor

John Hasseldine

Abstract

There are many instances, in all areas of business, in which individuals can become committed to a course of action that begins costing more than it is producing. Because it is often possible for persons who have suffered a setback to recoup their losses through an even greater commitment of resources to the same course of action, a cycle of escalating commitment can be produced (Staw, 1981). This thesis serves to address prior literature and prior studies based on the theory of escalation behavior . We furthered our research by conducting an experiment using university students to test certain said theory with the incorporation of specific variables (i.e. tax-avoidance strategies vs. sustainable investing). As such, this thesis was designed with the purpose of trying to understand why such behavior exists and what factors may have significant influence on the cycle known as escalating commitment.

Recommended Citation

Forrest, Victoria and Hasseldine, John Ph.D, "Escalating Commitment: Business Investments and CSR" (2016). Honors Theses and Capstones. 281.
https://scholars.unh.edu/honors/281