Dissertation Information for Jozsef A. TothNAME:
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SCHOOL: ADVISORS: COMMITTEE MEMBERS: MPACT Status: Fully Complete Title: The effects of representation in computer-mediated small group decision-making Abstract: Two experiments examined the effects of graphical displays of opinions on group decision-making. Three-person groups performed a risk decision-making task in three conditions, communicating remotely through networked computer workstations. In condition G, participants individually selected risk-choices on the computer, saw a prediscussion graphical representation of all three choices on the computer display, discussed the problem through a text-based medium, agreed on a group risk-choice as consensus, and selected postdiscussion risk-choices. Condition $G+AVG$ included the average of the three choices in the prediscussion display. T served as control using questionnaires instead of interactive graphics and no prediscussion display. In G and $G+AVG$, first, second, and third proposals for the group decision had more influence on the group choice, and more normative and persuasive arguments were voiced. The proposals were more alike in $G+AVG.$ First advocates were most influenced by the display in $G+AVG,$ second advocates were most influenced by first advocates and the display in G, and third advocates were most influenced by first and second advocates in G. The majority-wins decision rule prevailed in G, slightly less in $G+AVG.$ The minority-wins and average-wins decision rules prevailed in T. In the follow-up experiment, participants interacted individually with the software from the first experiment. In G and $G+AVG,$ participants selected a risk-choice and saw a graphical display of their own and two randomly generated names and choices. In T, participants selected risk-choices by questionnaire, and saw a text display of their own and two other randomly generated names and choices. The participants then selected a risk-choice again. Throughout, participants thought out loud about the task, and at the end of the session, were prompted to recall the other two risk-choices and names. In G and $G+AVG,$ choices were slightly riskier, and recall accuracy of the other two names and risk-choices was superior to T. Participants reported engaging in more social comparison in G and particularly in $G+AVG.$ The results suggest the spatial layout of the graphical information in G and $G+AVG$ enhanced social comparison processes in the groups leading to changes in group dynamics and influence. The graphical information also enhanced memory. |
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