EFFECTS OF GSS INTERFACE AND TASK TYPE ON GROUP-INTERACTION - AN EMPIRICAL-STUDY

The effects of GSS interface and task type on group interaction are ex amined in this experimental study. A 2 X 2 factorial design is employe d. Each treatment has eight groups. Two types of GSS interfaces are st udied: icon-based and text-based. Two task types are investigated: int ellective and preference. Three dependent variables are measured: effi ciency of influence attempts, inequality of influence attempts, and do minance significance. Results of data analysis show that groups using icon-based interface achieve greater efficiency of influence attempts, greater equality of influence attempts, and less dominance significan ce than groups using text-based interface. Moreover, equality of influ ence attempts is greater for preference task groups than intellective task groups. These results suggest that an icon-based interface is a u seful feature of a GSS, particularly when group members an novice comp uter users. GSS developers should, therefore, pay attention to interfa ce design on top of the considerations for other GSS features. (C) 199 7 Elsevier Science B.V.