Argues that a modification of the heuristics of classical rhetoric will facilitate an understanding of the dynamics of group decision making and provide a systematic process for attaining consensus. (Author)

Small groups of university students each made two decisions, one using consensus, the other using majority vote. Results confirm consensus method characteristics found in community groups studies and indicate that consensus is favored as a group process. Presented at Association for Sociology in Southern Africa, Maseru, Losotho, June 1979.…

Identifies six major factors that exerted influence on the decision-making process that led to the launch of the space shuttle, Challenger, on January 28, 1986. Concludes that decision to launch Challenger resulted from complex interplay among a number of cognitive, psychological, and social forces constituting the decision environment. (Author/NB)

Analyzed group discussions associated with 68 high-quality and 29 low-quality decisions made by comparably informed groups using cross-contact comparison. Found vigilance, second-guessing, and accurate information processing associated with high-quality decisions; faulty information processing and improbable fantasy chains with low-quality…

Developed and tested encompassing and utilitarian measure of small group consensus using 48 small groups involving 234 college students. Pilot study of 14 groups and 61 subjects used instrument to test consensus stability over six-week period. Results showed no significant change in consensus levels over that time. (Author/NB)

To explore the issue of the impact of group tradition on decision-making performance, the present study was designed to compare the decision-making effectiveness of ad hoc and established groups engaged in a consensus-type decision-making task. (Author)

This study attempted to determine if decision rule, majority v consensus, had significant impact on certain hypotheses concerning conflicts in small groups. (Author)

Examined whether different levels of task complexity result in variations in group decision making. Groups (N=7) discussed problems varying in levels of complexity. Findings suggested that group decision making is a cyclical process with the number of cycles affected by task complexity. (RC)

Uses a laboratory experiment involving role-playing groups to show that an assigned majority rule is likely to lead to higher-quality solutions than unanimity and no-decision rule. Results indicated under majority rule workers resistance to the foreman's power often resulted in a successful search for a better solution. (JAC)

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of varying leader selection systems on the performance of political decision-making groups (judges). The type of leadership choice of the court was the independent variable and degree of dissent the dependent variable. As predicted, merit choice had less dissent. (NG)

This article describes a study done to compare, quantitatively and qualitatively, the problem-solving and decision-making performance of four populations: business administration students, middle managers, elementary school teachers and elementary and secondary school principals. Results show business administration students and middle managers…

This paper reports on the relationships between group composition, leadership and decisions through a study of small groups engaged in preferential bargaining about problems with open solution sets. The relationships were analyzed and can be compared best against the background of traditional approaches. (Author)

Presents two studies of the influence of group size, prior acquaintance, and gender composition on talking and silence in decision making groups (N=157). Results suggested that friends talked more than strangers, and leaders talked more than nonleaders. Group differences were reflected more dramatically in patterns of silence. (JAC)

Examined culture variables in the negotiation of implicit rules which govern leadership behavior in small groups. American, French, and Arab students (N=42) were assigned identical decision-making tasks. Results showed monocultural groups presented homogeneous rules governing leadership prior to interaction, while intercultural groups presented…

Focuses on small groups in work organizations, sources of stress, and available social support systems in five articles. Includes a methodological paper on measuring social support in work groups. Analyzes the complexity of coping strategies, and the relationship of occupational and life stressors to each other and the family. (KMF)