Social Influence Processing in Computer Brainstorming

Abstract

Groups of 4 brainstormed on computers for 20 min. In some groups information about the number of ideas generated was exchanged every 5 min. Some groups verbalized their ideas as they were typed, and others only typed their ideas. Exchange of information about number of ideas increased group performance, but verbalization decreased performance. Both information exchange and verbalization increased the favorability of performance perception. These results are consistent with the Paulus and Dzindolet (1993) social influence model of group brainstorming.