| Previous research has demonstrated that decision-making groups tend to favor the introduction and use of shared over unshared information during discussions. This study examined the effects of time (restricted vs. ample) and participants' perceptions of task demonstrability (solve vs. judge) on information sampling and decision quality in computer-mediated and face-to-face task groups. Information regarding a fictional murder mystery was distributed to three-person face-to-face and computer-mediated discussion groups, using a hidden profile technique. The results indicated that the computer-mediated groups, who were given the solve set of instructions and provided with ample time during discussion, had the highest solution rates. The proportion of face-to-face groups who correctly solved the mystery task did not differ, regardless of whether they perceived the task to have a demonstrably correct solution or not. |
