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Xerox University Microfilms 300 North Zoob Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 49109 .cn.- ^'i ■»<! 74-24,361 LONDON, Manuel, 1949- THE EFFECTS OF PARTICIPATION AND INFORMATIC N ON GROUP PROCESS AND OUTCOME. The Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1974 Psychology, Industrial I University Microfilms, A XEROX Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan ' © Copyright by Manuel London 197^ THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED. THE EPPECTS OP PARTICIPATION AND INFORMATION ON GROUP PROCESS AND OUTCOME DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate Sohool of The Ohio State University by Manuel London, A .B ., M.A. *#**•*■ The Ohio State University 197^ Reading Committeei Approved by ♦ Dr. Milton D. Hakel Dr. Riehard J. Klimoski Dr. George L. Smith Dr. W. Bruce Walsh Dr. Robert J. Wherry, Sr Adviser Department of Psychology CKNOWLEDGKENTS In the summer o f 1973 , a team of two engineers and seven social sclenti sts at Ohio State University began work on a project ai med at developing an interface between engineering and the social sciences. This project was sponsored by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, I was hired as a res earch associate to aid in the evaluation of the project team. The need for the assess­ ment of interdisciplinary group process served as the impetus for the present study. It must be acknowledged that all nine faculty members, while herteogeneou3 In discipline, were horn ogeneous in the help and encouragement I received. Several members of the Sloan team deserve special thanks, I owe deep appreciation to Professors Richard J. Klimoski, George L. Smith, and W. Bruce Walsh. Their interest in my ideas and willingness to see them to fruition enhanced my enthusiasm for the scientific endeavor and the search for tfruth. I am endebted to Drs. Milton D. Hakel and Robert J. W herry, S r. f o r much of the substance of ray graduate training. Dr, Michae T. Wood provided the inspiration for «this study. I shall hlways value their acquaintance as friends and colleagues. Thanks also go to my research assistants, William E, Byrley, Jack Green, Donna Gutentag, and Terry Huyck. The completion of this study is due in great part to their commitment. M.L. ii VITA August 10, 19^9,............ Born - Boston, Massachusetts I 9 7 I ....................................................... A.B., Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 1971-197 2 ........................................... Teaching Associate, Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1972* ................................. .... .M.A., Industrial/Organizational Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1972. ..Research Assistant, Nationwide Research Center, Nationwide Insurance Company, Columbus, Ohio 1972-1973* • * * .................................... Teaching Associate, Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1973-197^* * Research Associate, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio PAPERS The development and application of a model of long-term group process for the study of interdisciplinary teams. Unpublished manuscript. The Ohio State University, 197^* (W ith W.B. W alsh) The effects of ideal and expected stereotypes on interviewers and type, order, and favorability of information in the selection interview. Unpublished Masters Thesis. The Ohio State University, 1972. The effects of perceived job complexity on performance and satisfaction. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management. Boston, Massachusetts, August, 1973. The nature of job complexity. Personnel Psychology. 197**, in press. (V/ith R.J. Klimoski) The role of the rater in performance appraisal. Journal of Applied Psychology. 197*1-» in press. (V/ith R.J. Klimoski) iii S e lf - e s teem and job complexity as moderators of attitudes towa: 'd work and effectiveness as seen by self, supe ^visors, and peers. Proceedings of the 81st Annu; til Convention- of the American Psychological Associationtion, Montreal. Canada, 1973# Vol71, 599-600. FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field* Industrial/Organizational Psychology Studies in Individual Effectiveness, Organizational Effectiveness , Human M o tiv a tio n , T h e o re tic a l Developments and Issues, Research Mehtods, and Socio- Technical Systems, Professors Milton D. Hakel, Michael T. Wood, and Richard J. Klimoski. Studies in Essentials of Psychological Testing, Laboratory in the Measurement of Individual Effective­ ness;, Merit Rating, Laboratory in Attitude and Morale Scales. Professors Fred Damarin, Milton D. Hakel, Robert J. Wherry, S r., and Thomas M. Ostrora. Studies in Univariate and M ultivariate Statistics, Professors Paul Isaac, Robert J. Wherry, S r., and Georgp Briggs, Studies in Manpower and Industrial Relations, Formal Organizational Theory, Analysis of Organizational Theory. Professors Paul Andrisani, Charles Hicks, and Ralph M. Stogdill. Studies in History and Systems of Psychology, Decision Processes, and Group Dynamics, Professors David Hothersall, James A, Wise, and Richard J. Klimoski. iv TABLE OP CONTENTS Pago ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . ...................................................................... i l VITA.................................................. ................................................... i l l LIST OF...................................TABLES............................................. ix LIST OF..................................FIGURES........................................... x iv C h ap ter I . INTRODUCTION....................... ....................... ............................ 1 I I . BACKGROUND................................................................................ 5 Group Decision Making and the Power Equalization Hypothesis 5 The relationship between management and the worker* Factors leading to participative decision making 8 Empirical tests of the power equalization hypothesis 14- Conditions for the success of participative decision making 20 The Nature of Small Groups 27 Defining a group 2? A systems model of group process 29 Determinants of group productivity 32 Effects of task demands on group process and outcome 34- Stages of group decision making 39 Elements of group composition* Information and role 4-6 The Personal Environment $6 Least preferred coworker 57 Interpersonal risk 63 v Page Self-esteem and Internal-external c o n tr o l 6? Summary 70 I I I . FOCUS OF THE PRESENT RESEARCH....................... 72 Input Parameter It Level of Participation 72 Input Parameter II* Information Homogeneity 78 Interaction of Information Homogeneity and Level of Participation 80 Input Parameter IIIi Personal Characteristics 83 IV. METHOD............................................................................. 86 Subjects 86 Group Task 88 P ro ced u re 89 Individual Difference Measures 92 Dependent Measures 9^ Data Analysis 100 V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION............................. 10** Characteristics of the Sample 105 Biographical data 105 Attitudes toward the three reference groups 105 Treatment Effectiveness 110 Effects of Participation and Information on Group Outcome 119 Effectiveness 119 Influence 131 vi Page Satisfaction 141 Commitment 146 Shift in risk taking tendency 149 Effects of Participation and Information on Group Process 155 Interaction process analysis 155 Group cohesiveness 164 Group atmosphere 168 Effects of Type of Information on Group Process and Outcome 174 Relationship between Personality Characteristics and Group Process and Outcome 136 Group atmosphere as a moderator of the relationship between