Conceptualising time as a level of analysis: New directions in the analysis of trust dynamics

ABSTRACT Theory on trust development, dissolution, and restoration suggest that trust is a dynamic state that varies in predictable and often systematic ways. Empirical research, however, lags behind the theoretical development, particularly with respect to understanding the trajectory of trust. This article reviews theory on dynamics of trust and some of the limitations in empirical research on these theories. We then describe an established but underutilised longitudinal analytic method that promises to foster significant theoretical refinements. We provide an illustrative example and discuss implications for future research.