martin lea

  • Research
    • Adoption Internet Project
    • Collaboration and groupwork
    • Computer-Mediated Communication
    • Computer-Mediated Communication Theory
    • Disaster Management
    • Disaster Resilience
    • Report Psychological and behavioural responses to disasters
    • Email communication
    • Gender and Power
    • Language in communication
    • Social Identity Model of Deindividuation Effects
    • Video communication
  • Publications
  • Training
    • Email Marketing Tips
    • How to Create a Personal Academic Website or Research Blog
    • Statistics Made Easy
      • Path Analysis Made Easy
    • Learning Jazz Saxophone
    • Adoption Social Media Info
  • Services
    • Business Website Reviews
    • Academic Web Design
    • Website Managed Hosting and Site Care
  • Books
  • Join
  • About

Social processes and group decision making: Anonymity in group decision support systems

Postmes, T. & Lea, M. (2000). Social processes and group decision making: Anonymity in group decision support systems. Ergonomics, 43, 1152–1274. (Special issue on ‘Contemporary theory and methods in the analysis of team working’).

Filed Under: Collaboration and groupwork, Journal Articles

Various social processes in decision-making groups are considered detrimental to the quality of decisions. It is often assumed that removing the ability for groups to exert strong social influence on its members improves group decisions. Group decision support systems (GDSSs) are increasingly used to remedy the social faults of the decision-making process in groups. In these systems, anonymity is seen as a tool to reduce the impact of the group over its members, and therefore as the key to improved group performance.

This meta-analytic review examines the assumption that anonymity in GDSSs is beneficial for group decision-making on a range of performance indicators. In 6 meta-analyses of 12 independent investigations there is no support for this hypothesis. The only reliable effect of anonymity was to lead to more contributions, especially more critical ones.

An alternative model is presented to account for the findings. This model argues that performance in decision-making groups depends on the social context and relevant social norms as well as on system characteristics such as anonymity. It is concluded that the integration of anonymity into phases of group decision support does not guarantee improved performance.

Download full text

If you find this article useful, please share so others can read it.

Share on E-mailShare on TwitterShare on FacebookShare on WhatsApp

Last updated on May 1, 2016 by Dr. Martin Lea


Further Reading

  • SIDE-VIEW: A social identity account of computer-supported collaborative learning
  • SIDE-VIEW: Evaluation of a prototype system to develop team players and improve productivity in Internet collaborative learning groups
  • SIDE-VIEW: An interactive web environment to support group collaborative learning
  • Social presence in distributed group environments: The role of social identity
  • Cohesion in Online Groups
  • Social processes in electronic teamwork: The central issue of identity.
  • Representations of the group and group processes in CSCW research: A case of premature closure?

Dr. Martin Lea

About Dr. Martin Lea

I'm interested in understanding how people communicate, relate and behave on the Internet, social media, and the Web. You can find full-texts of my publications here, including contributions to over 20 books. If you're looking for my website design and hosting services for researchers, authors, educators, and therapists, go here.

Connect with me

Contact me
Join my readers
Google Scholar
ResearchGate
Academia

Web Design Services

Personal Academic Websites
Research Blogs
Author Platforms
Managed Hosting
Site Care Packages
Website reviews & redesign

Search for a topic

Martin Lea Research & Design (MLRD)
PO Box 4336/2085, Manchester M61 0BW UK
Acknowledgements · Copyright · Privacy
Copyright © 2021 Martin Lea · Website design and hosting by Martin Lea Web Design

Download My Disaster Resources

Enter Your email to access and download

  • Full-text articles and Full length reports (PDF)
  • Reference lists and Endnote Bibliographies
  • Survey items and Questionnaires
  • Checklists and Recommendations

Get notified about new resources when I add them

Invalid email address
No spam. Only research. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thank you. I've just sent you an email. Please check your inbox for further instructions.