Current models draw a broad distinction between communication as dialogue a
nd communication as monologue. The two kinds of models have different impli
cations for who influences whom in a group discussion. If the discussion is
like interactive dialogue, group members should be influenced most by thos
e with whom they interact in the discussion; if it is like serial monologue
, they should be influenced most by the dominant speaker. The experiments r
eported here show that in small, 5-person groups, the communication is like
dialogue and members are influenced most by; those with whom they interact
in the discussion. However in large,10-person groups, the communication is
like monologue and members are influenced most by the dominant speaker The
difference in mode of communication is explained in terms of how speakers
in the two sizes of groups design their utterances for different audiences.