Information Utilization in Small Group Decision Making

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors, both communicative and noncommunicative, that lead to the utilization of information in a decision-making group. The study posited that the evaluative interaction model could explain a group 's acceptance or rejection of information. Three primary variables incorporated in the model were the focus of this study: (a) prediscussion preference structure, (b) information redundancy, and (c) valence of information items. The results of statistical analyses supported hypothesized relationships between the variables and infonmation acceptance. First, groups with conflicting prediscussion preference structures accepted significantly more information than consensus groups. Second, higher levels of redundancy increased the likelihood of information acceptance. Third, the best predictor by far was an item of information 's valence, accounting for almost 40% of the variance in acceptance. Finally, the full evaluative interaction model was able to accountfor almost 50% of the variance in information acceptance.