TEST OF A MODEL LINKING COGNITIVE MOTIVATION, ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVES, DECISION QUALITY, AND GROUP-PROCESS SATISFACTION

The proposed model links cognitive motivation to the assessment of alt ernatives, decision quality, and group satisfaction in Ventana Corpora tion's GroupSystems(TM) environment. The proposed model hypothesized d irect link between cognitive motivation, as operationalized by Petty a nd Cacioppo's (1986) Need for Cognition (NFC) construct and assessment of alternatives This link was confirmed. Group assessment of alternat ives war hypothesized to have a direct effect upon the quality of deci sion and satisfaction with group process. These links were confirmed. The hypothesized link between quality of decision and satisfaction wit h group process was, however not supported The finding that higher qua lity decisions result from greater member input concerning the value o f alternative choices bolsters the importance of establishing a compre hensive survey of the options. Group composition issues are discussed.