diff --git a/lib/active_model/serializer.rb b/lib/active_model/serializer.rb
index 840c943a..f7aaea39 100644
--- a/lib/active_model/serializer.rb
+++ b/lib/active_model/serializer.rb
@@ -94,44 +94,44 @@ module ActiveModel
       end
 
       class HasMany < Config #:nodoc:
+        alias plural_key key
+
         def serialize(collection, scope, context, options)
-          array = collection.map do |item|
+          collection.map do |item|
             find_serializable(item, scope, context, options).as_json(:root => false)
           end
-          { key => array }
         end
-
         alias serialize_many serialize
 
         def serialize_ids(collection, scope)
           # Use pluck or select_columns if available
           # return collection.ids if collection.respond_to?(:ids)
 
-          array = collection.map do |item|
+          collection.map do |item|
             item.read_attribute_for_serialization(:id)
           end
-
-          { key => array }
         end
       end
 
       class HasOne < Config #:nodoc:
+        def plural_key
+          key.to_s.pluralize.to_sym
+        end
+
         def serialize(object, scope, context, options)
-          { key => object && find_serializable(object, scope, context, options).as_json(:root => false) }
+          object && find_serializable(object, scope, context, options).as_json(:root => false)
         end
 
         def serialize_many(object, scope, context, options)
-          key = self.key.to_s.pluralize.to_sym
           value = object && find_serializable(object, scope, context, options).as_json(:root => false)
-          value = value ? [value] : []
-          { key => value }
+          value ? [value] : []
         end
 
         def serialize_ids(object, scope)
           if object
-            { key => object.read_attribute_for_serialization(:id) }
+            object.read_attribute_for_serialization(:id)
           else
-            { key => nil }
+            nil
           end
         end
       end
@@ -307,15 +307,41 @@ module ActiveModel
       end
     end
 
+    def include!(key, options={})
+      embed = options[:embed]
+      root_embed = options[:include]
+      hash = options[:hash]
+      node = options[:node]
+      value = options[:value]
+      serializer = options[:serializer]
+      scope = options[:scope]
+
+      association = Associations::HasMany.new(key, { :serializer => serializer })
+
+      if embed == :ids
+        node[key] = association.serialize_ids(value, scope)
+
+        if root_embed
+          merge_association hash, key, association.serialize_many(value, scope, self, {})
+        end
+      elsif embed == :objects
+        node[key] = association.serialize(value, scope)
+      end
+    end
+
     # Merge associations for embed case by always adding
     # root associations to the given hash.
     def merge_associations(hash, associations)
       associations.each do |key, value|
-        if hash[key]
-          hash[key] |= value
-        elsif value
-          hash[key] = value
-        end
+        merge_association(hash, key, value)
+      end
+    end
+
+    def merge_association(hash, key, value)
+      if hash[key]
+        hash[key] |= value
+      elsif value
+        hash[key] = value
       end
     end
 
@@ -326,7 +352,7 @@ module ActiveModel
 
       _associations.each do |association|
         associated_object = send(association.name)
-        hash.merge! association.serialize(associated_object, scope, self, :hash => @hash)
+        hash[association.key] = association.serialize(associated_object, scope, self, :hash => @hash)
       end
 
       hash
@@ -337,7 +363,7 @@ module ActiveModel
 
       _associations.each do |association|
         associated_object = send(association.name)
-        hash.merge! association.serialize_many(associated_object, scope, self, :hash => @hash)
+        hash[association.plural_key] = association.serialize_many(associated_object, scope, self, :hash => @hash)
       end
 
       hash
@@ -350,7 +376,7 @@ module ActiveModel
 
       _associations.each do |association|
         associated_object = send(association.name)
-        hash.merge! association.serialize_ids(associated_object, scope)
+        hash[association.key] = association.serialize_ids(associated_object, scope)
       end
 
       hash
diff --git a/test/association_test.rb b/test/association_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..57b3ef4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/association_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+require "test_helper"
+
+class SerializerTest < ActiveModel::TestCase
+  def def_serializer(&block)
+    Class.new(ActiveModel::Serializer, &block)
+  end
+
+  class Model
+    def initialize(hash={})
+      @attributes = hash
+    end
+
+    def read_attribute_for_serialization(name)
+      @attributes[name]
+    end
+
+    def as_json(*)
+      { :model => "Model" }
+    end
+
+    def method_missing(meth, *args)
+      if meth.to_s =~ /^(.*)=$/
+        @attributes[$1.to_sym] = args[0]
+      elsif @attributes.key?(meth)
+        @attributes[meth]
+      else
+        super
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_include_associations
+    post = Model.new(:title => "New Post", :body => "Body")
+    comment = Model.new(:id => 1, :body => "ZOMG A COMMENT")
+    post.comments = [ comment ]
+
+    comment_serializer_class = def_serializer do
+      attributes :body
+    end
+
+    post_serializer_class = def_serializer do
+      attributes :title, :body
+    end
+
+    post_serializer = post_serializer_class.new(post, nil)
+
+    hash = {}
+    root_hash = {}
+    post_serializer.include! :comments,
+      :embed => :ids,
+      :include => true,
+      :hash => root_hash,
+      :node => hash,
+      :value => post.comments,
+      :serializer => comment_serializer_class
+
+    assert_equal({
+      :comments => [ 1 ]
+    }, hash)
+
+    assert_equal({
+      :comments => [
+        { :body => "ZOMG A COMMENT" }
+      ]
+    }, root_hash)
+  end
+end