Computer-mediated Groups Research Articles

The Effect of Individual Traits on Emerging Roles in Synchronous Computer-Mediated Groups

This study examines group dynamics in a virtual decision-making context through the lens of role theory and speech act theory, furthering previous research on the roles that emerge in such settings. Specifically, this research uses communication transcripts and text analysis to complete two main research objectives. First, we extend prior research by exploring how individual traits of group members (specifically, personality, cognitive ability, and social sensitivity) are related to emerging roles in computer-mediated communication. Personal characteristics such as agreeableness, social sensitivity, and motivation were significant predictors of role emergence in online decision-making groups. Agreeableness predicted the emergence of the listener role, social sensitivity predicted the emergence of the manager role, and motivation predicted the emergence of the sharer role. Second, we answer the call for more replication research and further validate the results from previous research by measuring roles assumed by individuals working synchronously online; we highlight the findings that are confirmed across previous research and our current study.

The Assessment of Interpersonal Attraction and Group Identification in Virtual Group Network

This study investigates the measurement of social identification, interpersonal attraction, and cohesiveness in virtual groups. Different theoretical claims about relationships in computer-mediated groups rely on measurement strategies that are shown to reflect dramatically inconsistent semantic and administration features. A review of conceptual approaches and definitions for these constructs is presented. Data were collected from groups working asynchronously via the Internet under different geographic distributions, whose members completed a variety of measures related to these constructs. Analyses generated three likely dimensions of attraction. The research highlights the need for greater specificity in reports of the actual measures used in group research, and additional conceptual concerns regarding the contested relationships among these constructs.

Computer-mediated Focus Groups to Advance Aging Research: Challenges and Opportunities.

When compared to in-person offerings, fewer focus groups to date have been conducted with user-friendly technologies to help reach diverse communities of older adults with chronic health conditions (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, Type II diabetes, Parkinson’s) and the family caregivers and professional providers who assist them. The current project describes the adaptations needed to deliver successful computer-mediated focus groups via videoconference, thereby providing solutions to barriers faced by participants who often cannot attend in-person because they are housebound due to transportation or financial barriers, live in rural areas or reside too far from focus group offerings, or work full or part-time and face scheduling conflicts. During the pandemic, we successfully recruited diverse groups of family caregivers, care recipients, and professional providers into computer-mediated focus groups. Caregivers (83%) and care recipients (17%) between 34 to 90 years old (N=47) took part in the series of focus groups facilitated in English and Spanish (25.5%). Over 40% of participants self-identified as Hispanic or Latinx, Native American, or African American with roughly 15% attending from rural areas. Similarly, professional providers age 18 to 80 (N=25) attended separate groups in either English or Spanish (48%). Our results suggest that computer-mediated focus groups offer a unique opportunity to reach diverse samples of older adults, family caregivers, and their providers. These computer-mediated focus groups also offer the chance to learn novel ways to break barriers to health access by providing virtual reach capabilities for those facing health, transportation, work, or geographic barriers.

The effects of COVID-19 on virtual working within online groups

Employees may continue to work remotely for a substantial amount of time, even after the end of the pandemic. Our established theories of group processes and intergroup relations can help us understand these new ways of working and online group experiences. However, there are key differences in computer-mediated and face-to-face (FtF) groups. In this essay, I present some of the extant robust theories and findings from computer communication research to understand virtual working within online groups. These perspectives include that group processes develop over a longer period of time as compared to FtF, informal communication is neglected, computer-mediated groups have some advantages over FtF groups, sociomateriality is a useful theoretical lens, and dispersion affects group member cognitions about each other. I use my own lab’s work on entitativity as an example of how moving from FtF to online group research can deepen our understanding of both FtF and online groups. The essay concludes with recommendations for future research.

Encouragement of Turn-Taking by Real-Time Feedback Impacts Creative Idea Generation in Dyads

Building creativity in a remote group is challenging, and various methods to improve it have been investigated. However, the effect of a real-time feedback system on computer-mediated group creativity outcome remains undetermined. In this study, we studied the creativity performance of 20 two-person groups (dyads) while they engaged in a group alternative uses task via video-mediated communication and received real-time feedback cues based on turn-taking. The study included three conditions: turn-taking encouragement feedback (TTF), random time feedback (RF), and no feedback (NF). To probe the underlying mechanism, we assessed creativity outcomes, participants’ mood, and the temporal characteristics of the feedback effect type (i.e., slow gradual or instantaneous). The performance results revealed that TTF can enhance creativity outcome in the three dimensions of fluency, originality, and index of convergence. Comparing the self-reported moods indicated that the TTF cues heightened negative valence with high emotional arousal. While the results did not show any slow gradual changes in idea generation and idea quality differences between conditions, the results showed that the feedback cue impact was instantaneous. The results also indicated a significant instantaneous effect of immediate turn-taking on idea generation. Our findings suggest that the TTF condition enhanced cognitive persistence rather than cognitive flexibility during the remote group creativity session. The results of this study can be useful not only in remote human-to-human communications, but also in designing social robots and agents.

A Social Capital Perspective on Computer-Mediated Group Communication and Performance: An Empirical Study

In light of the pervasiveness of collaborative decision making and technology in organizations, this research examines computer mediated collaboration using the lens of social capital. We draw from the Distributed Cognition Theory and others for our socio-technical investigation that incorporates the technical component as the artifact of electronic memory (group memory), and the social component as the history of interactions between members (group history). We study these under the mediating influence of the relational social capital dimensions of relational closeness and relational trust. Our study shows how social capital adds an important flavor to collaborative performance. We highlight how the traditional premise of memory being an unequivocal enhancer of group performance gets altered if one fails to consider the influence of relational social capital in the equation. We propose to practitioners that collaborative technology that offers memory cannot be viewed independently, but as a vehicle that impacts performance through the dynamics of social capital of the group. Most importantly, our research reinforces the need for a novel perspective to collaborative development. With the diaspora of technological advancement, there needs to be a transition in perceiving collaborative development as a concurrent, rather than a sequential, process of discussion and development of group activity.

Gestures as Intrinsic Creativity Support

Interpersonal communication is essential to group creativity tasks, such as group brainstorming. However, what's easily overlooked in supporting group creativity is the potential use of nonverbal behavior in communication. When people communicate verbally (e.g., discussing a topic through conversation), they may also co-produce hand movements along with verbal contents as part of the communication process. Going beyond using external interventions for creativity gain, we examine the potential to facilitate worker's in-conversation gesture use as an intrinsic mechanism for bolstering group creativity. In this paper, we aim to gain a deeper understanding of the usage and function of hand gestures in computer-mediated group brainstorming. Through a laboratory study, we verified that metaphoric gestures, or producing spatial cues with hands to convey intended concepts, can best influence self's and partner's idea generation. Also, the positive effect of metaphoric gesture is independent of media richness of communication medium (e.g., whether there's visibility or not). The results help to fill in the knowledge gap regarding how gesture use may relate to group creativity, and reveal the potential viability of shaping metaphoric gesture use as an intrinsic creativity support.

Virtual Teams: Thematic Taxonomy, Constructs Model, and Future Research Directions

Background: Business competition, globalization, increasing opportunities presented by information and communication technology, the increased number of remote workers, and the emergence of computer-mediated groups have propelled the use, deployment, and growth of virtual teams in the past decade. A recent survey of 1,372 business respondents from 80 countries found that 85% of the respondents worked on virtual teams. The increasingly important role of virtual teams in organizations has spurred a parallel growth in research examining various aspects and challenges of these teams. Research goal: This paper reports on a systematic examination of the literature on virtual teams through which we provide a thorough review, analysis, and synthesis of research published in the past 10 years. Methodology: We follow the systematic literature review methodology proposed by Ramey and Rao to examine theories, research problems, research focuses, research methodologies, and major findings of 149 related studies on virtual teams published between 2007 and 2018. Results and conclusions: By using thematic analysis, we develop a research taxonomy that summarizes the main themes of existing research in the field; we develop a research model of independent, dependent, and moderator constructs that the existing research has examined; we identify the major limitations, unresolved issues, and gaps of existing research; and we suggest opportunities and directions to guide future research by proposing a set of research questions that remain unanswered. The research offers several theoretical and practical implications for scholars, remote workers, knowledge engineers, technology developers and designers, and professionals working in virtual settings.

Exploring perceptions of multicommunicator texting during meetings

Research on groups and technology often focuses on differences between face-to-face groups and computer-mediated groups. However, technology can also be utilized in face-to-face meetings, and can impact outcomes in a variety of ways. Multicommunication is the use of technology during face-to-face interactions. This exploratory study focused on how individuals perceive multicommunication (texting) occurring during a decision-making meeting. Results showed women viewed multicommunicators more negatively than men, and multicommunicators were viewed more negatively than non-multicommunicators. However, the gender of the multicommunicator did not play a role in perceptions. Suggested theoretical implications, along with directions for further research are provided.

Understanding Computer-Mediated Support Groups: A Revisit Using a Meta-Analytic Approach

ABSTRACTThe increasing popularity of computer-mediated support groups (CMSGs) has drawn scholarly attention in recent decades. Fifteen empirical controlled studies have been published since Rains and Young’s meta-analysis, showing mixed results, with a large variation of effect sizes ranging from −.77 to 1.33 in Cohen’s d. To provide a better understanding of CMSGs, the current study meta-analyzed these 15 newly published studies along with the studies included in Rains and Young’s meta-analysis, and tested study design and demographic moderators that have not been examined before. In addition, the study also revisited group size as a moderator and provided updated results with a larger sample size. Theoretical and practical implications of findings are discussed.

Early experience with computer-supported collaborative exercises for a 2 nd semester Java class

This paper reports on two semesters experience with computer-mediated group discussion exercises in a CS2 computer programming class. The class is a gateway for computer science and computer engineering students, where many students have difficulty succeeding well enough to proceed in their major. The exercises focus on Java concepts. They are designed to require students to rely on each other, but also be individually accountable. Learning gains measured in this trial have been mixed, with the least prepared student (as measured by pretest) in each discussion group showing the highest learning gains, while best prepared student in the discussion group showed score reductions on average. This paper reports on first year results of learning gains and of surveys of student experience with the exercises.

Linguistic ostracism causes prejudice: Support for a serial mediation effect

ABSTRACTThis research investigated the effects of linguistic ostracism, defined as any communication setting in which a target individual (or group) is ostracized by another individual (or group) in a language that the target has extremely limited ability to understand. Participants were included or ostracized by their group members during a computer-mediated group discussion. Half of the ostracized participants were linguistically ostracized via their group members conversing with one another in a language the participant did not know well (Spanish Ostracism: SO), or in a language the participant did know well (English Ostracism: EO). SO participants reported feeling less similar than both included and EO participants. SO participants also reported being angrier and expressed more prejudice than included participants (and EO participants using effect size estimates). Results also provided support for the hypothesized serial mediation model. Findings are discussed in terms of implications for intergroup relations.

Scaffolding computer-mediated discussion to enhance moral reasoning and argumentation quality in pre-service teachers

This study investigated the effect of scaffolding computer-mediated discussions to improve moral reasoning and argumentation quality in pre-service teachers. Participants of this study were 76 teaching education students at a Turkish university. They were divided into three groups: (1) a computer-supported argumentation group; (2) a computer-mediated discussion group; and (3) a control group. Participants in the computer-supported argumentation group were instructed in argumentation, and were provided with note starters and graphical argumentation tools. The computer-mediated discussion group, however, was engaged in unstructured interaction on the Moodle forum, a free popular learning management system having a threaded discussion forum. The control group did not receive any instruction and neither did they participate in any discussions. As for the results, the computer-supported argumentation group outperformed the control group, but not the computer-mediated discussion group on DIT score and argumentation quality. Thus, it was concluded that both giving instruction on argumentation and appropriately designing the interfaces of computer-mediated discussion environments can enhance argumentation quality in students’ writings and also their moral reasoning.

The Influences of Optimal Matching and Social Capital on Communicating Support

The optimal matching and social capital perspectives frame present research expectations and interpretations of the network, esteem, informational, and emotional support communication of 3 computer-mediated communication social support groups, each having a different health-promoting purpose. Past research has shown differences in the support communication provided by different groups but has offered little explanation for these differences. The present study uses a comparative analysis of optimal matching and social capital influences to compare and analyze differences in the support communication provided by Alcoholics Anonymous, cancer caregivers, and transgender identity support groups. Results show different patterns of support communication enacted in each. These results provide support for optimal matching and social capital predictions, indicating that the life stressor and group structure affect the social support provided. However, results also demonstrate a need for greater refinement in interpreting the effects of these influences. Each group communicates network, esteem, informational, and emotional support somewhat differently in response to the life stressor and in enacting bridging and bonding social capital. The present comparisons provide a fuller analysis of the optimal matching and social capital influences upon the support communicated in groups than afforded by past research studies and suggests research opportunities for future research.

The Effects of Task Complexity and Group Member Experience on Computer-Mediated Groups Facing Deception

Research problem: Due to globalization and the increased availability of online collaboration tools, individuals are now likely to work together in settings where computers are their primary mode of communication. However, because communication characteristics are different in virtual team settings, especially when they are text based, communication problems, such as deception, arise. Recent research found that deceptive individuals in virtual teams can have a negative impact on group task performance, and it recognized that in addition to the communication medium, task and group characteristics, such as task complexity and group member experience, are important influences in these settings. However, the impacts of these additional influences have not been empirically examined. Research question: Does group members' experience with each other and task complexity affect their deception detection accuracy and task performance in a computer-mediated communication setting? Literature review: Previous literature has shown that deceivers are an important influence on computer-mediated groups. However, few studies have compared different group settings, and no studies have empirically tested the impact that task and group characteristics, such as task complexity and group member experience, have on these types of groups. Methodology: An experiment was designed to test the effect of group member experience and task complexity on computer-mediated groups facing deception. Two-hundred fifty-six undergraduates (256) were selected for the experiment. Results and conclusions: Quantitative analysis, which included multivariate analysis of variance, revealed that (a) groups performing a low-complexity task were better at detecting deception than were groups performing a high-complexity task, (b) groups with members who had experience with each other had higher task performance than did inexperienced groups, and (c) experienced groups did not have higher accuracy in detecting deception than did inexperienced groups. These results highlight the importance of understanding the different affects that task complexity and group member experience have on virtual teams facing deception, and they provide insight into what practices can help minimize the impact of interactive computer-mediated deception.

Deception Performance in Online Group Negotiation and Decision Making: The Effects of Deception Experience and Deception Skill

Deception in computer-mediated group Negotiation and decision making presents a variety of risks. Gaining a better understanding of online deception has important implications for both individuals and organizations. Despite the rapidly increasing number of online deception cases reported in recent years, extant deception research has not considered the context beyond individuals or small groups. Additionally, there has been a mismatch between the important role of individual characteristics of the deceiver in theory and the lack of empirical investigation of their impact in research. This study aims to assess deception performance in mid-sized online groups by building a model of individual differences in deception experience and deception skill. We conceptualize deception performance in terms of deception success and two other new constructs, namely survivability and productivity. The model has been tested with a dataset collected from a real-world online community. The results show that deception skill has a positive effect on deception success, but deception experience has a negative effect. Although deception experience and deception skill are found to have opposite effects on the success of deceivers, both contribute positively to the survivability of deceivers. The findings of this study have significant implications for future deception research in online group communication and negotiation.

Computer-mediated group communication and ideation performance

Computer-mediated group communication and ideation performance

The Moderating Effect of Extraversion–Introversion Differences on Group Idea Generation Performance

Previous research provides evidence that individual differences in the personality characteristic of extraversion/introversion can play a significant role in group idea generation. Cognitive stimulation has also been shown to have a significant, though inconsistent, influence on idea generation in computer-mediated groups. We conducted two controlled experiments using a web-based group simulator to empirically test the impacts of these factors on group idea generation. In the first experiment, extraverts outperformed introverts in computer-mediated groups. In the second experiment, we exposed participants in computer-mediated groups to four levels of idea stimulation ranging from none to extremely high. Extraverts generated more unique and diverse ideas than did introverts in moderate- and high-stimuli conditions only. In sum, our study provides empirical evidence regarding the significant effect of individual differences, in this case the personality characteristic of extraversion/introversion on idea generation in a computer-mediated group. We have also demonstrated that a relationship exists between the level of cognitive stimulation and idea generation, with moderate levels of idea stimulation optimal for extraverts in computer-mediated groups. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Effects of Anonymity and Social Comparison of Rewards on Computer-Mediated Group Brainstorming

Anonymity in computer-mediated communication (CMC) is valued in organizations because it can facilitate participation in discussions, especially of sensitive issues. Concerns over maintaining the motivation to participate in such discussions, because of the inability to reward people for their contributions, have led to the development of techniques that allow rewards to be allocated without identifying their distributors and recipients. It was hypothesized, however, that anonymous rewards are not equivalent to identified rewards in the ability to motivate people. Results from a laboratory experiment using a group electronic brainstorming task supported this hypothesis. Task effort was higher when reward recipients were identified than when they were anonymous; comparing rewards further increased the effects of identification. Identification combined with comparison increased task effort slightly more for recipients of the middle level than the top or bottom levels of rewards. Negligible effects were found for idea quality. Implications are discussed for anonymity, comparison targets, task structure, and the intersection of technical and social factors in organizations.

The effect of uniform virtual appearance on conformity intention: Social identity model of deindividuation effects and optimal distinctiveness theory

This study integrates social identity model of deindividuation effects (SIDE) and optimal distinctiveness theory (ODT) in investigating the effect of uniform virtual appearance on individuals’ willingness to conform to a majority opinion in computer-mediated groups. SIDE posits that sharing the same visual cue can promote group identification process and eventually induce stronger conformity. Meanwhile, ODT indicates that too much visual similarity rather concerns individuals about their deprived uniqueness, so they would be reluctant to conform to a majority opinion as a way to restore their uniqueness. This study concurs with previous research based on SIDE by showing that group identification induced by uniform appearance increases conformity intention. It also showed that perceived deindividuation, another variable that is induced by a high level of visual similarity relative to others, decreases conformity intention. As a result, the current study shows that the effect of virtual uniform appearance on conformity intention is inconsistently mediated by group identification and perceived deindividuation.