RELATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN COMPUTER-SUPPORTED GROUPS

This study examines how group attitudes and outcomes evolve over time with repeated use of a group support system. Social Information Proces sing (SIP) theory, which suggests that relational intimacy may take lo nger to develop in computer-supported groups, was used as the basis fo r testing a temporally bounded model of group behavior. The basic argu ment underlying this model is that computer-supported groups, given ad equate time, will exchange enough social information to develop strong relational links. Thus, while computer support was expected to limit group interactions initially, the model predicted that, over a period of time, such constraints would dissipate. The results show evidence o f such shifts among computer-supported groups. Attitudes of GSS users changed over time from highly negative to somewhat positive; outcomes improved more slowly. The turnaround in attitudes of users-toward each other and the interaction process-support the SIP perspective that re peated use of computer support despite some inherent initial restricti ons-can help groups affiliate.