Modeling Serial Argument Goals, Tactics, and Their Effects on Arguers’ Satisfaction in the Case of Three Ethnic Groups in the United States

Abstract

This manuscript reports research investigating the serial argument process model in the case of Asians/Asian-Americans, Blacks/African-Americans, and Caucasians/European-Americans (N = 581). Individuals’ goals in serial arguments were connected to the tactics they reported using to accomplish their goals, and, further, to any changes in their relational satisfaction following an argument. The study also examined the influence of one’s strength of ethnic identity on this process. A structural equation model incorporating these relationships was tested for each group. Results provided adequate support for the models proposed. The discussion details the dynamics of the serial argument process model for each ethnic group.

Keywords:

• Serial arguments
• ethnicity
• strength of ethnic identity
• serial argument goals and tactics
• structural equation modeling
• intraethnic communication

Acknowledgment

The authors thank the Research Council at the University of Oklahoma for the fellowship awarded to the first author, which facilitated data collection.