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Interacting in electronic space: Group dynamics resulting from individual change

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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
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
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.