INTERDEPENDENT EXITING - THE EFFECTS OF GROUP-SIZE, TIME LIMIT, AND GENDER ON THE COORDINATION OF EXITING

Two experiments were performed on interdependent exiting using a new p aradigm, choices made to exit or wait on discrete rounds. The smaller the group size, the larger the proportion of group members exiting, re gardless of whether the exit space was held constant and the number of rounds was proportional to group size or the number of rounds was hel d constant and the exit space was proportional to group size. A larger proportion exited in the long time limit conditions rather than the s hort. There was no main effect due to gender, but a complex triple int eraction involving gender, group size, and time limit was obtained. In general, the results were consistent with the theoretical model of Ke lley et al. (1965). The relevance of this research to the areas of tac it coordination and queue models of traffic flow was discussed. (C) 19 96 Academic Press Limited