DECISION MAKING AND PERFORMANCE IN HETEROGENEOUS AND HOMOGENEOUS GROUPS,
Abstract
Decision making in small heterogeneous and homogeneous groups was investigated from the standpoint of information acquisition, information processing, and group performance in a simulated business game. The task required extensive information search, tracking of environmental change and integration of the information acquired. The groups were composed on the basis of the Ss' cognitive structure defined by a dimension of abstractness in conceptual complexity. Assessments of eight experimental groups were obtained for information acquisition, information processing and group performance. Although the more structurally concrete groups evidenced the most extensive information searching, assessment of group performance was highest for the heterogeneous abstract groups. The heterogeneous concrete groups were assessed more effective than the homogeneous concrete groups. The level of group heterogeneity appeared to be a determining factor in the influence which the overall level of conceptual complexity had on group performance. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 12, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0657625
Entities
People
- J. L. Kennedy
- Paul Stager
Organizations
- Princeton University