Do prior interactions breed cooperation in construction projects? The mediating role of contracts

There has long been inconsistence on the relationship among prior interactions, contracts and cooperative behavior. This study aims to examine how prior interactions affect cooperative behavior, including the effects of prior interactions on cooperative behavior and the mediating role of the contract. We classify cooperative behavior as in-role and extra-role behavior, and contract as a three-dimensional construct, including control, coordination and adaptation. Collecting data from 200 contractors in Chinese construction industry, the empirical results demonstrate the significance of the effect of prior interactions, the relationship between contract and cooperative behavior, and the mediating role of contractual coordination. According to our result, increasing contractual coordination emerges from prior interactions, while contractual control and adaptation are not related to these repeated collaborations. The findings reflect the interconnectedness of real-life projects and provide a nuanced explanation to the complex relationships among prior interactions, contracts and cooperative behavior.