The Effects of Controversy and Concurrence Seeking on Effective Decision Making,
Abstract
The effects of controversy and concurrence seeking were compared on effective decision making. Thirty-six students were randomly assigned to conditions and to groups of four within each condition. Subjects participated in a four-hour experimental session (two two-hour sessions two days apart), engaging in structured argumentation or avoiding disagreements while making a group decision, depending on the condition. The results indicate that controversy, compared with concurrence seeking, resulted in higher-level reasoning reflected in the decision, greater epistemic curiosity, and greater personal efficacy and commitment to the decision, with no damage to the quality of the relationships among group members. More orally active members were perceived as providing the most leadership. Additional keywords: Cooperation; Variables; Methodology; Agreements.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 20, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA153370
Entities
People
- D. W. Johnson
- Kevin A. Smith
- R. P. Petersen
- R. T. Johnson
Organizations
- University of Minnesota