The impact of physical and discursive anonymity on group members' multipleidentifications during computer-supported decision making

Drawing on the social identity and deindividuation (SIDE) model, and adding insights from research on multiple targets of identification and physical/ discursive anonymity, this research examined the relationship between ident ity and anonymity in the use of computer-based group decision support syste ms (GBSSs). Results suggested that identification with all targets was lowe r in GDSS meetings than it was in general. Additionally, discursively anony mous participants had less identification with their group (especially when also hidden), contributed more total comments, used more expressions with no identifications or disidentifications, and used fewer expressions of mul tiple identifications than did discursively identified participants. Visual ly hidden participants also expressed fewer comments indicating identificat ion with their group. Overall, this research extends SIDE (as it relates to anonymity, group communication technologies, and identification with multi ple targets) and offers several practical implications to users of GDSSs an d similar communication technologies.