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Interacting in electronic space: Group dynamics resulting from individual change
- Date Issued:
- 1992
- Summary:
- Three studies use interaction in groups to test macro-level phenomena of the type predicted by computer simulations of dynamic social impact theory, an interactive, reciprocal, and recursive extension of Latane's (1981) theory of social impact, which specifies how individuals are affected by their social environment. A key prediction of dynamic social impact theory is that such phenomena as clustering and polarization of attitudes will emerge from social interactions among spatially distributed people. Study One, using a group of 24 people corresponding with their neighbors about an attitudinal topic, found both substantial polarization and a suggestive tendency toward clustering. Studies Two and Three, using 192 people organized into 48 24-person groups, provide strong empirical support for the emergence of clustering and incomplete polarization, and extend the findings to two alternative spatial structures. As predicted, a control geometry, involving random connections without any spatial organization, failed to produce clustering. Directions for future research are discussed.
Title: | Interacting in electronic space: Group dynamics resulting from individual change. |
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Name(s): |
L'Herrou, Todd Alan Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor Latane, Bibb, Thesis advisor Charles E. Schmidt College of Science Department of Psychology |
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Type of Resource: | text | |
Genre: | Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation | |
Issuance: | monographic | |
Date Issued: | 1992 | |
Publisher: | Florida Atlantic University | |
Place of Publication: | Boca Raton, FL | |
Physical Form: | application/pdf | |
Extent: | 70 p. | |
Language(s): | English | |
Summary: | Three studies use interaction in groups to test macro-level phenomena of the type predicted by computer simulations of dynamic social impact theory, an interactive, reciprocal, and recursive extension of Latane's (1981) theory of social impact, which specifies how individuals are affected by their social environment. A key prediction of dynamic social impact theory is that such phenomena as clustering and polarization of attitudes will emerge from social interactions among spatially distributed people. Study One, using a group of 24 people corresponding with their neighbors about an attitudinal topic, found both substantial polarization and a suggestive tendency toward clustering. Studies Two and Three, using 192 people organized into 48 24-person groups, provide strong empirical support for the emergence of clustering and incomplete polarization, and extend the findings to two alternative spatial structures. As predicted, a control geometry, involving random connections without any spatial organization, failed to produce clustering. Directions for future research are discussed. | |
Identifier: | 14821 (digitool), FADT14821 (IID), fau:11609 (fedora) | |
Degree granted: | Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1992. | |
Collection: | FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection | |
Note(s): | Charles E. Schmidt College of Science | |
Subject(s): |
Human behavior--Computer simulation Social interaction Social groups |
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Held by: | Florida Atlantic University Libraries | |
Persistent Link to This Record: | http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14821 | |
Sublocation: | Digital Library | |
Use and Reproduction: | Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder. | |
Use and Reproduction: | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ | |
Host Institution: | FAU | |
Is Part of Series: | Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections. |