STYLES OF GROUP DISCUSSION IN COMPUTER-MEDIATED DECISION-MAKING

This study investigated the claim that keyboard-based computer-mediate d group discussion suppresses normative influence relative to informat ional influence. In a simulated panel of inquiry presented with comput er databases containing inconsistent and incompletely shared informati on, four-person groups attempted to reach decisions either in face-to- face (FF) discussions or in real time computer-mediated (CM) discussio ns via a network linking computers at separate locations. CM groups re ported greater difficulty communicating ideas than FF groups and took longer to reach a decision. Contrary to previous research, CM groups e xhibited a preference for a normative style of discussion, exchanging proportionally more positional and value statements and proportionally fewer factual and inferential statements than FF groups, but only in the final stage of the experiment. This discussion style led in turn t o lower levels of private post-decision agreement and decision satisfa ction among CM groups. Results are discussed in terms of the restricti ons imposed by computer mediation on group discussion, and how these c ombine with other task conditions to determine group goals and discuss ion style.