| Most theories of small group decision making assume that group discussion content plays a causal role. What is discussed affects what decision is made. The present study explores two issues related to that assumption, what determines discussion content and what is the nature of the relationship between discussion content and decisions. In addition, the study looked for task differences in discussion and decision processes; groups in the study completed 3 different decision tasks: qualitative choice, quantitative judgment, and discussion only (no group decision).; Three-member groups made decisions about the qualifications of fictional candidates for student government. Group members received 7 facts about each of 3 candidates prior to each decision. Members rated the value and importance weight of each fact before and after each group decision. Contradicting the predicted prominence effect, weight ratings did not vary more in the choice condition than in the judgment condition. Groups tended to discuss facts with high mean weight ratings and facts about which members disagreed; after discussion, members agreed more about facts which they had discussed. In the group choice condition, groups discussed more facts about the candidate that the group chose. Discussion content did not predict group judgments (choices) when controlling for members' pre-discussion judgments (choices). Group judgments were less extreme than average member judgments, a depolarization effect. The findings are related to a general model of group discussion and group decision making. |
