| Research within computer-mediated communication and decision-making has been inconsistent due to a preponderance of research in which different types of tasks have been used, yet task type is not controlled. This dissertation focuses on task differences (McGrath, 1984) within a group decision-making support system and the effects on small group communication processes and outcomes. Specifically, seven hypotheses proposed differences when comparing an execute task to a choose task and when comparing a cooperative task to a negotiate task. Dependent variables were (a) quality of outcome (i.e., decision), (b) quality of process (i.e., interaction), (c) outcome satisfaction, (d) process satisfaction, (e) conflict (i.e., negative socio-emotional behavior), (f) cooperation (i.e., positive socio-emotional behavior), (g) thinking (i.e., amount of conceptualization), and (h) execution (i.e., amount of solution implementation). No support was found for any of the hypotheses for effects of a generate task versus a negotiate task for measures of conflict, cooperation, thinking, quality of outcome, process quality, or process satisfaction. No support was found for any of the hypotheses for effects of a choose task versus an execute task for measures of solution implementation or mental involvement. Also, research questions were developed to compare the same combinations of tasks on all dependent variables while controlling for three group dimension variables. These were level of (a) task difficulty, (b) task interest, and (c) task familiarity. Only task interest of the three group dimension variables was found to be a reliable construct. A main effect was found for task interest in generate and negotiate tasks. Specifically, negotiating tasks were reported as more interesting than generating tasks. Negotiating tasks tend to have higher quality of outcome, quality of process, degrees of satisfaction of outcome, amounts of mental effort, and amounts of solution implementation than those with low task interest. This study points a way for further research to investigate how group process dimensions such as task interest (and possibly task difficulty or familiarity) might affect how the group members approach, progress through, and accomplish different types of tasks. |
