Choice shift and group polarization: An analysis of the status of arguments and social decision schemes.

Abstract

Two Choice Dilemma Questionnaire items were used to investigate the influence of persuasive arguments and social decision schemes on group decisions. Furthermore, the predictions of the persuasive arguments theory on the polarization of individual preferences were tested. Ss were given lists of persuasive arguments and a second individual decision was requested before the group discussion. The reduced paired comparison median model showed the best fit and the highest hit rate in predicting the group decisions.