Group Polarization (Risky Shift) in LED and Leaderless Group Discussions

Abstract

The group polarization effect (risky shift) has often been identified in ad hoc leaderless discussion groups but never tested in a group with a leader. The present experiment extended the research by examining the effect on decision making of discussion in groups with and without a leader. Ninety-four college students' decisions on Choice Dilemma Questionnaire items (Kogan & Wallach. 1964) were examined three times: (1) individually prior to discussion, (2) as members of a group, and (3) individually after group discussion. In leaderless groups, members discussed the problems and came to a consensus decision. In led groups, the leader discussed the problems with advisors before making a decision. Instructions to the led groups stressed that the task of the members was to advise the leader whose choice was final. It is current belief that exchange of information alone and not group decision is what influences people's decisions (Myers & Lamm, 1976). If assigning the role of making a final decision to one person in a group does not significantly alter the information flow during discussion, then the decision of a leader should be equally polarized as the decisions of his advisors and the decisions of members in leaderless groups. Thus, it was hypothesized that post-discussion decision, using either a group or individual measure, would be more polarized than individual decision made prior to discussion for all people: members of leaderless discussion groups, leaders of discussion groups, and members (advisors) of led discussion groups.