DECISION-MAKING BY CHINESE AND US STUDENTS

Differential outcomes and processes were examined between groups drawn from Hong Kong Chinese students and U.S. students. Predictions about group performance and processes were based on cross-cultural empirical literature, theoretical work on collectivist and individualist social behaviors. and group research. The participants engaged in decision-m aking tasks, first as individuals and then by consensus in groups of 5 . A group-effectiveness measure was developed: A group was considered effective if the group as a whole outperformed a majority of its indiv idual members. According to the results of a postexercise questionnair e, (a) Chinese ingroups had a higher percentage of effective groups th an did Chinese minimal !acquaintance) groups, whereas U.S. minimal gro ups had a higher percentage of effective groups than did U.S. ingroups ; (b) although the Chinese ingroups' deliberation times were nearly 3 times longer than those of the U.S. ingroups, their performance accura cy was not superior to that of the U.S. groups; and (c) the Chinese pa rticipants were more concerned than the U.S. participants about an app ropriate image and perceived their group discussions as more intense a nd conflict ridden than the U.S. participants did.