| Attorneys have proposed that only a few jurors actually make a difference during jury deliberations. This research investigated numerous correlates of influence in small group decision making. Volunteer students completed a questionnaire packet, read a product liability, and were randomly assigned to a six-person jury. Juries were instructed to select a foreperson and, as a jury, determine the amount of damages to award to the plaintiff. Jury deliberations were videotaped and coded. After deliberations, jurors rated each of the other jury members on five characteristics: influence, persuasion, likeable, similar, and knowledgeable. Data were analyzed using Kenny's (1994) SRM and SOREMO software. Results indicated significant perceiver and target variance for all five characteristics. Especially high, reliable consensus levels were found for influence. The following variables were correlated with greater influence: higher GPA, older jurors, jurors with more education, presiding jurors, the first juror to speak, jurors who spoke more during deliberations and jurors who asked more questions. |
