Effects of Communication Mode and Prediscussion Information Distribution Characteristics on Information Exchange in Groups

One advantage of groups is that they have access to a larger pool of expertise and knowledge than individual group members. However, groups are sometimes ineffective at exchanging information. This tendency has been called biased discussion. The present study examines the effects of communication mode (face-to-face vs. computer mediated), and Prediscussion information distribution characteristics on biased discussion. Biased discussion was found to occur to a greater degree when communication mode was computer-mediated, and the group members were not in conflict prior to the discussion.