Borrowing trouble? A debate on how social exchange theory is used and can be used in job insecurity research

Theory-borrowing is common practice in the field of job insecurity: scholars often use insights from generic theories or theories from other areas of study (e.g., social exchange theory or conservation of resources theory). While borrowing is not problematic as such, it is problematic when not done with care. Using social exchange theory as an example, we show that theories are sometimes borrowed in an ad hoc or piecemeal fashion in job insecurity research. Social exchange theory is often used to explain why job insecurity leads to negative outcomes for the organisation, for example attitudes (e.g., organisational commitment) and behaviour (e.g., performance). Yet, this explanation can be made much richer when social exchange theory is used as intended, namely as a dynamic rather than a static theory and accounting for a diverse exchange relationship. In this chapter, we will outline how theory is used, where missed opportunities are and how a theory elaboration approach can be used to feed job insecurity research and lead to research questions, findings and interpretations that are both more accurate and compelling.