Mediational inferences in organizational research

This introductory article for the feature topic on mediation is designed to provide a context for the articles that follow. Specifically, the authors revisit the history of mediational inferences in social and organizational sciences and illustrate how mediational inferences have been evident for more than a century. Some of the important milestones and the evolution of thought leading to today are chronicled. Then a modem-day framework for understanding mediational inferences is outlined that serves to highlight how the articles included in this feature topic contribute to the continued evolution of the bases of mediational inferences. The article concludes with the authors' vision of what may be fruitful directions for future research.