Group Problem Solving

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Group Problem Solving Pub. Date: 2/3/2011 Publisher: Princeton University Press
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Group Problem Solving Pub. Date: 2/3/2011 Publisher: Princeton University Press

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Overview

Experimental research by social and cognitive psychologists has established that cooperative groups solve a wide range of problems better than individuals. Cooperative problem solving groups of scientific researchers, auditors, financial analysts, air crash investigators, and forensic art experts are increasingly important in our complex and interdependent society. This comprehensive textbook--the first of its kind in decades--presents important theories and experimental research about group problem solving. The book focuses on tasks that have demonstrably correct solutions within mathematical, logical, scientific, or verbal systems, including algebra problems, analogies, vocabulary, and logical reasoning problems.

The book explores basic concepts in group problem solving, social combination models, group memory, group ability and world knowledge tasks, rule induction problems, letters-to-numbers problems, evidence for positive group-to-individual transfer, and social choice theory. The conclusion proposes ten generalizations that are supported by the theory and research on group problem solving.

Group Problem Solving is an essential resource for decision-making research in social and cognitive psychology, but also extremely relevant to multidisciplinary and multicultural problem-solving teams in organizational behavior, business administration, management, and behavioral economics.

What People Are Saying

Hinsz

It is good to see this concise and well-organized textbook become available as there hasn't been one on this subject in decades. The research is solid and among the most rigorous and meticulous of experimental work being conducted on group performance.
— Verlin B. Hinsz, North Dakota State University

R. Scott Tindale

There is no better person to write this book than Patrick Laughlin. His work on group problem solving over the past four decades has been some of the most insightful and thorough research ever conducted on this topic. This excellent book will find a prominent place on my bookshelf.
— R. Scott Tindale, Loyola University, Chicago

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780691147901
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Publication date: 2/3/2011
Pages: 168
Product dimensions: 6.00 (w) x 9.30 (h) x 0.70 (d)

Meet the Author

Patrick R. Laughlin is professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Acknowledgments xv

Chapter One: Basic Concepts in Group Problem Solving 1

Group Task, Structure, Process, and Product 1

Interpersonal Influence Processes 3

Group Tasks 3

Additive, Compensatory, Conjunctive, Disjunctive, and Complementary 3

Divisible and Unitary 5

Maximizing and Optimizing 5

Intellective and Judgmental 5

Summary 6

Laboratory Experimental Research on Group Problem Solving 7

Overview of Chapters 7

Chapter Two: Social Combination Models 8

Marjorie Shaw's Classic Study 8

Experimental Designs 10

The Lorge and Solomon Model A 10

The Lorge and Solomon Model A as an Application of the Binomial Theorem 12

Smoke and Zajonc: Group Decision Schemes 12

Thomas and Fink: Extension to More Than Two Response Alternatives 15

Davis: Social Decision Scheme Theory 16

Model Testing and Model Fitting 19

Summary 20

Chapter Three: Memory and Group Problem Solving 22

Recognition Memory 23

Transactive Memory 25

No Communication during Learning or Retrieval 26

Communication during Retrieval 27

Communication during Learning and Retrieval 29

Nine Propositions 31

Cognitive Interdependence and Convergent Expectations 32

Shared and Unshared Information 35

Optimal Assignment of Items to Members 35

Shared and Unshared Knowledge 37

Information Sampling Model 37

Solving a Problem versus Making a Judgment 38

Social Validation of Information 38

Common Knowledge Effect 40

Group Judgment 40

Group Choice 41

Jury Memory 42

Summary 43

Chapter Four: Group Ability Composition on World Knowledge Problems 45

English Vocabulary 45

General Achievement 52

Remote Verbal Associations 53

Homogeneity and Heterogeneity of Group Member Ability 54

Conclusions on Group Ability Composition 55

Chapter Five: Collective Induction 57

An Inductive Rule-Learning Task 58

Collective versus Individual Induction: Effects of Increasing Evidence 58

Collective versus Individual Induction: Effects of Increasing Hypotheses 65

Collective Induction with Increasing Hypotheses and Increasing Evidence 67

Positive Hypothesis Tests and Negative Hypothesis Tests 70

Simultaneous Collective and Individual Induction 72

Social Combination Processes 76

A Theory of Collective Induction 80

Collective Induction in Competitive Auctions 82

Chapter Six: Letters-to-Numbers Problems 87

Letters-to-Numbers Problems 87

Letters-to-N umbers Strategies 88

Two-Letter Substitution Strategy 89

Multiletter Substitution Strategy 89

Known Answer Strategy 90

Combined Known Answer and Multiletter Substitution Strategy 91

Groups Perform Better Than the Best Individuals 91

Trials to Solution 91

Letters per Equation 92

Letters Identified per Equation 92

Two-Letter Substitution Strategy 93

Known Answer Strategy 93

Summary of Results 94

Discussion 95

Groups Perform Better Than the Best Individuals: Informative Equations and Effective Strategies 96

Five Instruction Conditions 96

Trials to Solution 98

Equations with Minimal Letters 98

Groups Perform Better Than the Best Individuals: Effects of Group Size 101

Previous Research on Group Size on Intellective Tasks 101

Experimental Design 103

Trials to Solution 103

Why Do Groups Perform Better Than the Best Individuals on Letters-to-N umbers Problems? 107

Chapter Seven: Group-to-Individual Problem-Solving Transfer 109

Specific Transfer 109

Analogies 109

Mathematical Problems 111

General Transfer 113

Mathematical Problems 113

Brainteasers 114

Logical Implication 115

Four Issues in Group-to-Individual Transfer 116

Design 119

Summary 122

Chapter Eight: Social Choice Theory 124

Basic Concepts of Social Choice Theory 125

Motions (Alternatives) and Preference Orders 125

For-Against Matrices 125

Sequential Pairwise Voting and the Paradox of Voting 126

Runoff Elections 128

Rank Order Voting 128

Approval Voting 130

The Median Voter Theorem 131

Condorcet Jury Theorem 131

Experimental Evidence for Social Choice Theory 132

The Median Voter Theorem 132

Agenda Influence 134

Condorcet Jury Theorem 136

Successive Majorities in a Hierarchical System 137

A Remarkable Concurrence 139

Social Choice Theory and Group Problem Solving: The Constitutional Convention of 1787 140

Chapter Nine: Conclusions 141

Generalizations 141

Retrospective and Prospective 142

References 145

Index 155

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