The present study re-examined the consistently reported strong need and weak merit preference in reward allocation under collectivism, including allocator-recipient relationship, the nature of the resource (non-monetary), and resource scarcity as independent variables. Responses by 76 female college students in India to allocation scenarios indicated both significant merit and need preference depending largely on the nature of the resource and partly on the allocator-recipient relationship. Partially corroborating these allocation preferences, subjects perceived the greatest unfairness under merit violation (but only non-significantly greater than need, equality and promise violations). The non-significant resource scarcity effects as well as some other findings were inconsistent with expectations based on collectivism and scarcity as cultural dimensions. The findings were interpreted in the light of situational and resource variables, as reactions to conditions prevalent in contemporary Indian society, rather than in terms of cultural influences per se. Shortcomings of the study were mentioned.

Key words: reward allocation, merit preference, need preference, collectivism, scarcity