Observing and Mapping Group Arguments:  Majority Size and Valence Influences in Juries

Dyer, Shannon Sue

doi:https://doi.org/10.21985/n2-5rvr-mt21

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Observing and Mapping Group Arguments: Majority Size and Valence Influences in Juries

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This dissertation observes interaction to explore the influence of group argument in decision-making in mock juries. The goals of this investigation were to observe two-sided deliberations of a task-oriented decision-making group, map the dichotomous arguments and provide insight into what influences were at play in the final decision. The study provides a grounded theory that might narrow the gap between cognition and interaction research perspectives by creating similarities in the predeliberative, interaction, and postdeliberative measures. It examines argument influence by testing how the amount of support for a side in a group deliberation might relate to individual decision change. This study challenged the sensitivity of majority influence theories by using groups with two different margins of majority. It used high and low majority conditions to test the relationship of argument valence and the pressure to conform to the majority side. Finally, this investigation examined arguments over time, seeking new patterns and insights in a visual exploration of the influence process. There were limitations with a sample size that did not provide enough power for the conditions tested in the study. Nonetheless, there were indications that a quadratic relationship exists between majority and decision change: as the majority gets close to unanimous, the influence of social pressures to conform and change preference appeared stronger; as the proportion of the majority decreased toward equally divided group preferences, the influence of the interaction seemed to rise. However, argument valence, as tested, does not account for the interaction influence. Mapping the argument over time in a naturally occurring group revealed problems with the concept of consistency. A new definition of consistency is suggested, and a measure for persistence is recommended to combine with consistency for future studies. Persistent consistency would be a new variable that might address the complexity of influence in group argument topics. The visualization of patterns of valence over time in an area stream graph provides a snapshot of the entire deliberation and each participants contribution to the group valence.

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