A Research Agenda for Trust: Interdisciplinary PerspectivesBy R. C.Mayer, and Mayer, B. M. (eds.), Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024

Trust is a cornerstone of human interaction and organisational success, essential for fostering cooperation, reducing uncertainty and facilitating effective governance. A Research Agenda for Trust, edited by Roger C. Mayer and Barbara M. Mayer, provides a thorough exploration of trust from multiple disciplinary perspectives. This volume, which is part of Elgar's Research Agendas, brings together contributors from diverse fields, including artificial intelligence (AI), psychology, medicine and law enforcement, to present a comprehensive overview of current trust research and its vital importance in the 21st century. The book opens with an introductory chapter by Roger C. Mayer and Barbara M. Mayer, who emphasise the necessity of interdisciplinary research to address the complex and multifaceted nature of trust. They advocate for integrating insights from various disciplines to tackle grand societal challenges such as climate change and global health crises. The editors highlight the rapid technological advancements and societal changes that necessitate a deeper understanding of trust, arguing that trust is crucial in navigating these transformations. The subsequent chapters cover a broad range of contexts and applications of trust. Steve Lockey and Nicole Gillespie, in Chapter 2, focus on AI, proposing a research agenda to foster trust in AI systems. Lucca Eloy, Philip Bobko and Leanne Hirshfield, in Chapter 3, explore the intersection of trust and computer science-based decision-making systems, offering an interdisciplinary research agenda for building appropriate trust and reliance on heterogeneous human-agent teams. Rainer Bromme and Friederike Hendriks, in Chapter 4, examine trust in science, particularly why people may distrust scientific evidence. Kimberly M. Wingert and Roger C. Mayer, in Chapter 5, address trust in autonomous technologies, questioning whether trust should be directed towards the technology itself or its creators. Chris P. Long and Sim B. Sitkin, in Chapter 6, introduce a dynamical systems approach to trust research, emphasising the evolving nature of trust relationships. Gene A. Brewer and co-authors in Chapter 7 discuss how perceptions of trustworthiness are shaped by anticipation of future states. Munindar P. Singh and Roger C. Mayer, in Chapter 8, propose a scorecard for trustworthy AI implementation in organisations, offering practical guidelines for managers. Oliver Schilke, Martin Reimann and Karen S. Cook provide a sociological perspective on trust in Chapter 9, examining how social structures influence trust. Joseph B. Lyons, Matthias Scheutz and Sarah A. Jessup, in Chapter 10, investigate human trust in autonomous robots, exploring the psychological dimensions of trusting robotic systems. William A. Boettcher III, in Chapter 11, discusses trust in nuclear nonproliferation negotiations, highlighting the strategic importance of trust in international diplomacy. Richard A. Wise and co-authors in Chapter 12 present new directions in police-public trust research, emphasising the need to consider trust from both perspectives to enhance community relations and public safety. Alan R. Wagner, in Chapter 13, examines trust in evacuation robots, stressing the importance of designing robots that can be trusted in emergency situations. Yan Wu and Frank Krueger, in Chapter 14, explore the neurofunctional underpinnings of interpersonal trust, introducing a neuropsychological model of interpersonal trust to integrate psychological processes such as motivation and cognition with neural mechanisms. Arvin Damodaran and Boaz Shulruf, in Chapter 15, explore trust in healthcare professions education, proposing an interdisciplinary research agenda. Jasmine Cervantes and co-authors in Chapter 16 examine trust in religious organisations, particularly in the aftermath of scandals, providing critical insights into rebuilding trust in institutions facing significant trust deficits. The final chapter by James H. Davis focuses on the complex social network web of entrepreneurial trust, highlighting the multifaceted nature of trust in entrepreneurial settings. The editors emphasise the 1995 Mayer, Davis and Schoorman model of trust as a foundational starting point, which is revisited and expanded upon throughout the book. This model, which identifies ability, benevolence and integrity as key dimensions of trustworthiness, serves as a crucial framework for understanding and analysing trust across various contexts. One of the book's significant strengths lies in its disciplinary diversity. The editors have curated a collection that explores a range of perspectives and contexts. This pluralistic approach enriches the overall narrative, providing a comprehensive toolkit for future research. The book also highlights the practical implications of trust research, making it relevant not only to academics but also to practitioners in fields such as business management, human resources and governance. The book's emphasis on interdisciplinary research is particularly timely. As the editors note, complex global challenges often cannot be understood or addressed by a single field of study. As a multifaceted and dynamic construct, trust benefits from being examined through the lenses of sociology, computer science, cognitive psychology, engineering, organisational behaviour, AI, entrepreneurship, healthcare, neuroscience and international relations. This interdisciplinary approach not only broadens the scope of trust research but also provides richer and more nuanced insights. A Research Agenda for Trust is an important read for scholars and practitioners alike. Its thorough exploration of trust across different levels and contexts makes it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand this critical concept. The book advances the academic discourse on trust and offers practical implications for enhancing trust in various spheres of life. This volume succeeds in setting a new research agenda, encouraging a deeper and more nuanced exploration of trust. The editors and contributors provide a robust and comprehensive examination of trust, bridging disciplinary boundaries and offering a rich tapestry of insights. This book is a significant contribution to the field and a must-read for those interested in the dynamics of trust in the modern world. The author declares no conflicts of interest.