Trust formation

Researchers follow possible movement from anonymous contribution to recognition, correspondence, cooperation, continuing relationship. Participants may encounter practical knowledge, care, fulfilled obligations before receiving conventional biography.

A visitor offers an accurate technical observation. The custodian accepts a reply. They complete a small task, return equipment as agreed, later consider further work. Researchers ask each participant about the actual basis of confidence and compare earlier relationships, institutional mediation, material activity, other circumstances.

Trust can remain specific to a task or setting. Confidence in repair knowledge need not imply confidence about every other subject. An encounter can also produce misunderstanding, unreciprocated interest, disagreement about obligations. Failures, prior ties, methods belong in the account. Researchers examine object-mediated activity against alternative ways of arranging contact.