Credibility and Communication in Work Units.

Previous research has consistently linked notions of interpersonal trust and source credibility to communication behavior. This study used three dimensions of source credibility safety, expertise, and dynamism to extend the summative variable trust into components relevant to communication in organizational units. The credibility dimensions were shown to be differentially related to the frequency, accuracy, and openness of communication in work units. Perceptions of the accuracy and openness of information exchange were also related to the number of others contacted and the frequency of interaction.