This study investigates the influence of interpersonal communication and intergroup identification on members' evaluations of computer-mediated groups. Participants (N= 256) in 64 four-person groups interacted through synchronous computer chat. Subgroup assignments to minimal groups instilled significantly greater in-group versus out-group…

This article reports a meta-analysis of 28 studies examining the health-related outcomes associated with participation in a formal computer-mediated support group (CMSG) intervention. In particular, health outcomes related to social support were assessed and four group-level characteristics of CMSGs were tested as potential moderators of…

Interest in virtual groups has focused on attribution biases due to the collocation or distribution of partners. No previous research examines self-attributions in virtual groups, yet self-attributions--the acknowledgment of personal responsibility or its deflection--potentially determines learning and improvement. This study reviews research on…

Proposes interaction hypotheses involving the social, interpersonal, and intellectual responses of group members collaborating via computer-mediated communication. Finds that some conditions of computer-mediated communication used by geographically dispersed partners rendered effects systematically superior to those obtained in other mediated…

Investigates whether a member with information critical for making the best group decision positively influences the group's final choice. Examines impact of status differences among members and of communication media (face-to-face versus computer-mediated communication). Finds that mixed-status groups made poorer decisions and fewer references to…

Examines the formation of group norms in computer-mediated communication (CMC) among students who used e-mail as part of a course. Shows that norms prescribing a particular use of technology are socially constructed over time at the level of locally defined groups, and also shows that the influence of these norms is limited to the boundaries of…

Two experiments investigated if and how visual representation of interactants affects depersonalization and conformity to group norms in anonymous computer-mediated communication (CMC). In Experiment 1, a 2 (intergroup versus interpersonal) x 2 (same character versus different character) between-subjects design experiment (N=60), each participant…