Decision Making Processes of Natural Dyadic Groups.
Abstract
Several theories concerning the process utilized by groups/individuals to make a decision have been identified but not extensively tested in experimental research. These theories include optimization, Herbert Simons' 'satisficing' theory, and Peer Soelberg's 'confirmation hypothesis.' The researchers conducted an experiment to observe the decision making process of natural dyadic groups (natural being defined as a group having both a history and an expected future as a group). The researchers hypothesized that, when faced with a nonprogrammed decision making task, natural dyadic groups would utilize a decision process that conformed to Peer Soelberg's 'confirmation Hypothesis.' That is, they would: (1) search beyond the first acceptable alternative; (2) reduce the number of acceptable alternatives to two prior to making a final decision; (3) not compare acceptable alternatives with each other until after search had terminated; and, (4) choose an earlier acceptable alternative rather than the last acceptable alternative identified during search. The results of the experiment supported Soelberg's 'confirmation hypothesis' and also demonstrated that the decision process was not influenced by the degree of the importance of the decision to the decision makers. The results of the experiment also illuminate areas for further research in the area of group decision theory. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA030326
Entities
People
- Gerald M. Dupree
- James E. George
- Walter A. Becker
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology