INTERRUPTION AND INFLUENCE IN DISCUSSION GROUPS

This study examines two aspects of conversational behavior that might lead to high perceived social influence in newly formed discussion gro ups, namely, to gain speaking turns by interrupting others and, conver sely to retain speakership against others' interruptions. Subjects dis cussed the issue of euthanasia and afterward ranted their own and each other's influence. Relative to low-ranking members, high-ranking memb ers were more successful in interrupting others and in gaining speakin g turns by other, noninterruptive means. When being interrupted high-r anking members were better able to maintain the floor However the form er also yielded to interruptions more frequently, probably because of the larger number of overall interruptions they received. Further anal ysis showed that certain speech acts (dissent, offer reply) were more strongly associated than, others (consent, reaction, request) with the successful enactment of interruptions and that, contrary to stereotyp ic beliefs, interruptions were not always disruptive but could functio n constructively in rescuing and promoting group discussion.