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The Influence of Group Representation on Group Decision-making

Mueller, David Gregory
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1124111352

Abstract Details

2005, Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, Psychology.
Decision-making groups have a bias toward discussing information that members share over information that is uniquely held by some group members. When unique information is critical to identifying a solution groups will often fail to select the optimal solution. The present study investigates information exchange and decision making in socially categorized small groups. Competing hypotheses were proposed. One hypothesis proposed that groups with two subgroups would discuss more unique information than shared information and groups with a unified group representation would discuss more shared information than unique information when there was a hidden profile that created conflict. This hypothesis also proposed that groups with two subgroups would make better decisions than groups with a unified group representation. The other hypothesis proposed that groups with a unified group representation would discuss more unique information than shared information and groups with two subgroups would discuss more shared information than unique information when there was a hidden profile that created conflict. This hypothesis also proposed that groups with a unified group representation would make better decisions than groups with two subgroups. Results indicated that the presence of categorization in groups suppressed group decision quality relative to individual decision quality. Results also indicated that groups with two subgroups discussed more candidate information and repeated more unshared information than groups with two subgroups, although groups with a unified group representation and groups with two subgroups did not differ in decision quality when there was a hidden profile. Overall, results suggest that categorization is detrimental to group performance. When decisions must be made in groups the present study provides evidence that the presence of subgroups within a group leads to the discussion of uniquely held information. The theoretical implications of these findings for social categorization in small group decision-making are discussed as well as the practical applications for information exchange between groups in organizatons.
Beth Dietz-Uhler (Advisor)
101 p.
Group Decision-making; Intergroup Relations; Diversity; Group Performance

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Mueller, D. G. (2005). The Influence of Group Representation on Group Decision-making [Doctoral dissertation, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1124111352

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Mueller, David. The Influence of Group Representation on Group Decision-making. 2005. Miami University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1124111352.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Mueller, David. "The Influence of Group Representation on Group Decision-making." Doctoral dissertation, Miami University, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1124111352

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

miami1124111352
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© 2005, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.