CONCEPTUAL LEVEL AS A COMPOSITION VARIABLE IN SMALL GROUP DECISION-MAKING
Abstract
Decision-making in small groups, varying in composition along a dimension of conceptual level, was investigated from the standpoint of the emergent functional role structure, conflict generation, utilization of conflict in decision synthesis, and information acqusition. The study was directed toward an understanding of the relationship between the conceptual level dimension (the independent variable) and the dependent variables of group information processing structure and specific predecisional processes. On the basis of the conceptual systems theory, the following hypotheses were advanced: (a) structuring decreases or, conversely, role flexibility increases, as the percentage of members of a high conceptual level in the group increases; (b) groups, in which the members are all of a high conceptual level, manifest more interpersonal conflict than groups in which the members differ in conceptual: (c) the extent to which generated conflict is utilized in decision synthesis increases with an increasing PMHCL in the group: (d) the extent of search for novel information increases as the PMHCL in the group increases, whereas total information search is not dependent upon group composition. Each of the hypotheses advanced was confirmed by the obtained results. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0657850
Entities
People
- Paul Stager
Organizations
- Princeton University