EFFECTS OF REACTIONS
TO ARGUMENTS
GROUP POLARIZATION
GROUP POLARIZATION
Group polarization is defined
operationally as the tendency for
average post-discussion positions
to favor in a significantly more
extreme way the group’s average
prediscussion decision (p. 226).
Incriminating case
pre
consensus
> Attribution of responsibility to
the person
MAJORITY
Exonerating case
post
pre
> attrib. respon to
circumstance
< attribution of
reponsib. to the
situation
post
consensus
No change in attrib
of personal respon
MAJORITY
CLICKER
One dependent variable in this study
is attribution of responsibility.
A. TRUE
B. FALSE
CLICKER
Another dependent variable in this
study is a grade assigned by the
subject.
A. TRUE
B. FALSE
CLICKER
• Subjects produced three sets of scores
on responsibilty and assigned grades:
(1)pre-discussion, (2)consensus, and
(3)post-discussion.
• TRUE
• FALSE
PROCEDURE
• Subjects read an incriminating case and an
exonerating case;
• Then they individually answered
questions(attributed responsibility and
assigned a grade) about the 2 case studies
they read;
• Subjects met in groups of 4 and discussed
their views until they reached consensus;
PROCEDURE (cont.)
• After reaching consensus, they filled out
questionnaires again(as individuals),
giving their rating on responsibility and
assigned a grade;
WHAT THE STUDY WAS
INTERESTED IN TESTING
• H1:Whether or not scores increased
more when majority views met with
positive reactions;
• RESULTS DID NOT SHOW A
CORRELATION BETWEEN
REACTIONS TO MAJORITY VIEWS
AND GROUP POLARIZATION;
WHAT THE STUDY WAS
INTERESTED IN TESTING
• Reactions to Minority Views and Group
Polarization--TWO KEY FINDINGS:
– A significant negative correlation between
positive reactions to minority arguments
and group polarization;
– There was not a significant correlation
between reactions to minority views and
the number of minority arguments
advocated;
CLICKER
HOW MANY INDEPENDENT
VARIABLES WERE THERE IN
THIS STUDY?
A. 2
B. 6
C. 8
D. 12
OVERALL CONCLUSION
“WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IS TO
DEVELOP A CLIMATE WITHIN A
GROUP WHICH ENCOURAGES
POSITIVE CONSIDERATION OF
MINORITY ARGUMENTS” (P. 236).