An analysis of interagent residual‐influence effects upon members of small, decision‐making groups

The residual effect of group influence upon members of small, decision‐making groups was investigated. It was hypothesized that the group agent, rather than individual member agents, contributes the dominant residual‐influence effect upon the group member. One hundred and sixty‐two graduate and undergraduate students participated in three‐man, unstructured, decision‐making groups for a simple management computerized simulation model. Group membership was determined according to student academic level and business/nonbusiness major. Members of control groups were responsible only for group decision making; members of experimental groups were responsible for both group and private (after‐group) decision making. Decision values submitted by two or more agents (group or individual) were converted into simple sequences which were generated by a time ordering of set‐intersect values defined by means of basic set theory. The sequence technique allowed, first, for an intercomparison of the components assumed to comprise an experimental group member's private decisions: a “learning” effect, and “independence” effect, and the “group agent's residual‐influence” effect. In this intercomparison, the latter effect was found to significantly dominate both the learning and independence effects in terms of average sequence values and general longitudinal sequence patterns. The sequence technique also allowed for an intercomparison of group agent and intermember residual‐influence effects upon the experimental group member, and in support of the hypothesis the group agent effect was found to significantly dominate the intermember effect in terms of average sequence values. Implications of group residual‐influence effects are discussed relative to member participation in committee work and group learning techniques.