Communicative Influence in Groups: A Review and Critique of Theoretical Perspectives and Models Renee A. Meyers, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee David

Communicative Communicative Influence in Groups: Influence in Groups:

A Review and A Review and Critique of Critique of Theoretical Theoretical

Perspectives and Perspectives and ModelsModels

Renee A. Meyers, University of Wisconsin-Renee A. Meyers, University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee

David R. Seibold, University of California, David R. Seibold, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara

Mirit D. Shoham, University of California, Mirit D. Shoham, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara

OverviewOverview

Approach to Group InfluenceApproach to Group Influence Relevant Influence TraditionsRelevant Influence Traditions Group Influence Framework and ReviewGroup Influence Framework and Review

Functional Theory and InfluenceFunctional Theory and Influence Symbolic Convergence Theory and InfluenceSymbolic Convergence Theory and Influence Socio-Egocentric Model and InfluenceSocio-Egocentric Model and Influence Structurational Theory and InfluenceStructurational Theory and Influence

Conclusion and Further ThoughtsConclusion and Further Thoughts Questions and DiscussionQuestions and Discussion

Approach and Relevant Approach and Relevant TraditionsTraditions

Approach to Group Approach to Group InfluenceInfluence

Focus on Focus on communicativecommunicative influence in influence in groups:groups: instrumental goal attainment and instrumental goal attainment and

related individual, subgroup, and related individual, subgroup, and system effects,system effects,

that are constituted in verbal exchanges that are constituted in verbal exchanges among group members,among group members,

who interact face-to-face or can readily who interact face-to-face or can readily do so.do so.

Relevant Influence TraditionsRelevant Influence Traditions

SocialSocial influence foundations: influence foundations: Asch on conformity processes/yielding to majority Asch on conformity processes/yielding to majority Zajonc’s social facilitation perspectiveZajonc’s social facilitation perspective French & Raven’s bases of social powerFrench & Raven’s bases of social power

Perspectives from other disciplines Perspectives from other disciplines notnot fully fully integrated into Communication studies of integrated into Communication studies of group influence: group influence: Jackson’s Social Forces Model of InfluenceJackson’s Social Forces Model of Influence Zander’s Theory of Goal SelectionZander’s Theory of Goal Selection Zanna’s and others’ collective action/individual Zanna’s and others’ collective action/individual

reactions extension of Cognitive Dissonance Theoryreactions extension of Cognitive Dissonance Theory Bales’ SYMLOGBales’ SYMLOG


Group communication perspectivesGroup communication perspectives not not focused on influencefocused on influence:: Fisher & Hawes’ Interact System ModelFisher & Hawes’ Interact System Model Salazar’s Mediational Perspective on group Salazar’s Mediational Perspective on group

decision makingdecision making Putnam & Stohl’s Bona Fide Groups Putnam & Stohl’s Bona Fide Groups

FrameworkFramework


Communication studies of groups shaped byCommunication studies of groups shaped by use of use of influence-related perspectives from influence-related perspectives from other disciplinesother disciplines:: Price & Cappella’s use of Deutsch & Gerard’s Price & Cappella’s use of Deutsch & Gerard’s

perspective for work on informational/normative perspective for work on informational/normative influence in discussionsinfluence in discussions

Boster’s reliance on Social Comparison TheoryBoster’s reliance on Social Comparison Theory Alderton & Frey’s use of Moscovici’s minority influence Alderton & Frey’s use of Moscovici’s minority influence Hollingshead’s tests of McGrath’s Time, Interaction, Hollingshead’s tests of McGrath’s Time, Interaction,

Performance (TIP) ModelPerformance (TIP) Model Wittenbaum’s research invoking Wegner’s Transactive Wittenbaum’s research invoking Wegner’s Transactive

Memory PerspectiveMemory Perspective Propp’s integration into her own work of Stasser’s Propp’s integration into her own work of Stasser’s

information distribution and distillation group researchinformation distribution and distillation group research

Group Influence Group Influence Framework and ReviewFramework and Review

Group Influence Group Influence FrameworkFramework

Structure review of group influence Structure review of group influence around two tensions:around two tensions: Is source of influence the Is source of influence the

individual/agency or institutional individual/agency or institutional structures, or both?structures, or both?

Are effects of influence intentional or Are effects of influence intentional or unintentional, or both?unintentional, or both?

Caveat: This is only one lens for Caveat: This is only one lens for analysis, and an imperfect one. analysis, and an imperfect one. Open for debate and discussion.Open for debate and discussion.

FrameworkFramework

Source of Source of Influence Influence GoalsGoals

IntentionalIntentional UnintentionalUnintentional

AgencyAgency

Structural Structural FactorsFactors

Types of Influence Effects

Functional TheoryFunctional Theory

Five communicative functionsFive communicative functions Understanding of problemUnderstanding of problem Recognizing criteria for acceptable Recognizing criteria for acceptable

solutionsolution Generating a range of solutionsGenerating a range of solutions Assessing the positive consequencesAssessing the positive consequences Assessing the negative consequencesAssessing the negative consequences

Research findings generally Research findings generally supportivesupportive

Functional Theory and Functional Theory and InfluenceInfluence

How group members produce (or fail How group members produce (or fail to produce) these five functions to produce) these five functions significantly influences final outcomessignificantly influences final outcomes Individuals/groups have agency to Individuals/groups have agency to

influence goals through communication influence goals through communication related to five functions;related to five functions;

Influence effects in group decision-making Influence effects in group decision-making are generally intentional in natureare generally intentional in nature

Group members are capable of influencing Group members are capable of influencing each other and the final outcome, and do so each other and the final outcome, and do so intentionally (are aware and motivated to do intentionally (are aware and motivated to do so)so)

FrameworkFramework



AgencyAgency Functional Functional TheoryTheory



Symbolic Convergence Symbolic Convergence TheoryTheory

Investigates how groups create a shared Investigates how groups create a shared consciousness that binds members consciousness that binds members together as a cohesive unittogether as a cohesive unit

Groups develop symbolic convergence Groups develop symbolic convergence through the sharing of fantasiesthrough the sharing of fantasies Fantasies are shared interpretations of Fantasies are shared interpretations of

events that fulfill a psychological or events that fulfill a psychological or rhetorical needrhetorical need

These fantasies guide and influence the These fantasies guide and influence the group’s outlook, identity, and actionsgroup’s outlook, identity, and actions

Symbolic Convergence Symbolic Convergence TheoryTheory

and Influence and Influence Individuals have agency to produce the Individuals have agency to produce the

group fantasies that serve to influence group fantasies that serve to influence group actionsgroup actions Members produce messages, stories, jokes, Members produce messages, stories, jokes,

imagined futures, analogiesimagined futures, analogies The effects of these influence attempts The effects of these influence attempts

are often unintentional and unplannedare often unintentional and unplanned Not always clear which fantasies the group Not always clear which fantasies the group

will select, and often unclear how the will select, and often unclear how the fantasy will influence the groupfantasy will influence the group

FrameworkFramework

Source of Source of Influence GoalsInfluence Goals



Symbolic Symbolic ConvergenceConvergence

TheoryTheory



Socio-Egocentric ModelSocio-Egocentric Model

Little evidence that influence has an Little evidence that influence has an impactimpact Identifiable non-interactive factors can Identifiable non-interactive factors can

explain observed patternsexplain observed patterns Non-interactive inputs produce decision Non-interactive inputs produce decision

outputsoutputs Groups are sets of individualsGroups are sets of individuals Members’ interaction is governed by larger Members’ interaction is governed by larger

macro-structuresmacro-structures Turn-taking rulesTurn-taking rules Norms (rules about vacuous comments)Norms (rules about vacuous comments)

S-E Model and InfluenceS-E Model and Influence

Source of influence are non-interactive Source of influence are non-interactive input factors—broader institutional input factors—broader institutional structures determine interaction structures determine interaction patterns and influencepatterns and influence

Influence effects are largely Influence effects are largely unintentional in natureunintentional in nature

Alternative model of influence proposed Alternative model of influence proposed by Hewes’ (individual-to-individual, act-by Hewes’ (individual-to-individual, act-to-act dependencies) posits both to-act dependencies) posits both individual agency and intentional effectsindividual agency and intentional effects

FrameworkFramework

Source of Source of Influence GoalsInfluence Goals




TheoryTheory


Socio-Socio-Egocentric Egocentric

Model Model


Structuration TheoryStructuration Theory

Much work on group influence focuses on Much work on group influence focuses on argumentargument Argument is system (observed patterns of Argument is system (observed patterns of

interaction)interaction) Argument is structure (unobservable Argument is structure (unobservable

generative rules and resources that enable generative rules and resources that enable argument)argument)

Argument is both medium and outcome of Argument is both medium and outcome of group interactiongroup interaction

Research has investigated patterns of group Research has investigated patterns of group argument, tag-team argument, developed model of argument, tag-team argument, developed model of group argument, investigated argument in f2f and group argument, investigated argument in f2f and computer-mediated groups, etc.computer-mediated groups, etc.

Structuration Theory and Structuration Theory and InfluenceInfluence

Theoretically, structuration accounts Theoretically, structuration accounts for both tensions (individual/group for both tensions (individual/group agency versus institutional structure; agency versus institutional structure; intentional and unintentional outcomes)intentional and unintentional outcomes)

Practically, most work has focused on:Practically, most work has focused on: Individual/group agencyIndividual/group agency Intentional outcomesIntentional outcomes

Some recent work on Adaptive Some recent work on Adaptive Structuration Theory looks at Structuration Theory looks at implication of structures and impact on implication of structures and impact on outcomesoutcomes

FrameworkFramework



AgencyAgencyFunctional Functional TheoryTheory

Structuration Structuration TheoryTheory


TheoryTheory


Structuration Structuration TheoryTheory

Socio-Socio-Egocentric Egocentric

Model Model


ConclusionsConclusions

ConclusionsConclusions Potential contributions:Potential contributions:

Focus on Focus on communicativecommunicative influence in groups influence in groups Survey of 4 relevant Survey of 4 relevant influence traditionsinfluence traditions Influence in 4 prominent Influence in 4 prominent group comm group comm

perspectivesperspectives FrameworkFramework: source of goals x type of effect : source of goals x type of effect

Critiques of 4 group comm perspectivesCritiques of 4 group comm perspectives Functional Theory: extend to natural groups; Functional Theory: extend to natural groups;

reduce conceptual ambiguities/operational reduce conceptual ambiguities/operational disparities; assumption re:availability of disparities; assumption re:availability of relevant/accurate data; additional functions relevant/accurate data; additional functions that need to be incorporated; uncover that need to be incorporated; uncover constraints constraints

ConclusionsConclusions Critiques of 4 group comm perspectives (con’t)Critiques of 4 group comm perspectives (con’t)

Symbolic Convergence Theory: theoretical Symbolic Convergence Theory: theoretical scope/empirical generalizability?; propositions scope/empirical generalizability?; propositions re:intersubjective processes?; tests of theory?re:intersubjective processes?; tests of theory?

Socio-Egocentric Model: limited to individual-Socio-Egocentric Model: limited to individual-to-individual influence; act-to-act to-individual influence; act-to-act contingencies as underlying unit of analysis contingencies as underlying unit of analysis for assessing influencefor assessing influence

Structuration Theory: over-attention to Structuration Theory: over-attention to processes/emergence of structures; predictive processes/emergence of structures; predictive potential not fully exploited; empirical potential not fully exploited; empirical demonstration of recursivity of action<-demonstration of recursivity of action<->structure>structure

ConclusionsConclusions Relationship with majority/minority Relationship with majority/minority

influence theories influence theories (Martin & Hewstone, 2007)(Martin & Hewstone, 2007)

Main-Effects Models:Main-Effects Models: Conversion Theory Conversion Theory (Moscovici, 1980, 1985)(Moscovici, 1980, 1985)

Convergent-Divergent Theory Convergent-Divergent Theory (Nemeth, 1986)(Nemeth, 1986) Social-Impact Theory Social-Impact Theory (Latane, 1981, 1996)(Latane, 1981, 1996)

Objective-Consensus Approach Objective-Consensus Approach (Mackie, 1987; (Mackie, 1987; DeVries et al. 1996)DeVries et al. 1996)

Contingency Approaches:Contingency Approaches: Conflict-Elaboration Theory Conflict-Elaboration Theory (Perez & Mugny , 1996)(Perez & Mugny , 1996)

Context/Comparison Model Context/Comparison Model (Crano & Alvaro, 1998)(Crano & Alvaro, 1998)

Self-Categorization Theory Self-Categorization Theory (David & Turner, 1996)(David & Turner, 1996)

Documents

Communicative Influence in Groups: A Review and Critique of Theoretical Perspectives and Models Renee A. Meyers, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee David