Group Norm Development over a Series of Tasks: Supplementing Task Information with Personal Experience

Abstract

This dissertation provides support for the expansion of traditional definitions of information, to include experiential forms of data (e.g., attitudes, opinions, and familiarity related to the task at hand) that have typically been treated as nonsubstantive and therefore were often been excluded from most of the previous research on group information sharing. This study also examines how to effectively intervene when groups develop norms that privilege or suppress then mentioning of certain types of information during decision-making discussions. In an experimental design, groups worked on a series of three fact similar not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) cases. Findings indicate that the timing of the introduction of an intervention influences its effect, and that patterns of normative information use over time are different for traditional versus more experiential types of data.