Abstract
Research examining de-individuation via computer-mediated communication (CMC) suggests that group pressure is more pronounced in CMC-using groups than in groups meeting face to face, because CMC strips away non-verbal cues and makes individuals feel more similar to the others in their group. Similarly, electronic voting research suggests that group influence is more pronounced via group support systems when the opinions of others are communicated in real time. However, recent research involving complete anonymity suggests that group influence is mitigated via anonymous CMC because of a lack of awareness of others. Thus, we propose that increased group influence is facilitated when others’ opinions are communicated, and is heightened with the common identity created through the use of nominal labels. This paper reports the results of a laboratory experiment involving groups making an organization decision via a text-based chat room. The results show that a simple electronic voting interface element increased the amount of group influence on individual members, and led to decreased participation and higher dispensability.
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Appendix
Appendix
Questionnaires
The psychometric properties of the scales were measured using PLS techniques (Chin, 1998b) and are summarized in Tables A1 and A2. Composite reliability (ρc) is a measure of the internal consistency of the scale, similar to Cronbach's alpha. All of the scales had composite reliability above the recommended cutoff of 0.7. Convergent and discriminant validity of a scale are assessed in two ways. First, the square root of the average variance extracted for a scale (its correlation with its own items) should exceed its correlation with the other latent variables. All of these scales meet this criterion. Second, each item should load (correlate) more highly with its own latent variable than it correlates with other latent variables. One item for the dispensability scale loads more highly with consensus than with its own latent variable, suggesting that modification would aid that scale (Chin, 1998a).
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Haines, R., Cheney Mann, J. A new perspective on de-individuation via computer-mediated communication. Eur J Inf Syst 20, 156–167 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1057/ejis.2010.70
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/ejis.2010.70