Small group decision-making in face-to-face and computer-mediated environments: the role of personality

Abstract

This study investigates the potential influence of personality dimensions on the behaviour and individual processes of small group decision-making in face-to-face and computer-mediated groups. A sample of 90 students was divided into 16 groups, with between four and seven students per group. The groups were randomly assigned to start with one of two different discussion media and one of two different leaderless group discussion problems. Measures of leadership, initiative, judgement, and interpersonal sensitivity were obtained for each subject from two raters working independently using video-tapes of the face-to-face sessions and the logged interactions of the computer-mediated sessions. Further, ‘satisfaction with the process’ and ‘satisfaction with the outcome’ were assessed using a Likert-type scale. Personality was measured using the Myers Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI®). Using correlations and repeated measures ANOVAs across the outcome dimensions and the psychological type scores, the findings of this research suggest that personality plays a minor role in differentiating between the media conditions.