Title from title page (viewed April 26, 2010) Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Psychology. Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-91).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1965. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Bibliography: l. 121-125.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--New York University, 1958. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [80]-84).

Past research has demonstrated that individual and group judgments are subject to systematic biases. Although much effort has been devoted to the debiasing of individual judgments, no corresponding work to date has been found on the debiasing of group judgments. Complicating this research gap is the fact that group and team work is gaining increasing importance in organizational settings. The current study examines the usefulness of group support systems (GSS) in addressing two important judgment biases, namely, representativeness bias and availability bias. Representativeness bias refers to the bias incurred in posterior-probability estimation by not properly utilizing information sources such as base rate. Availability bias occurs when events of higher availability to the memory are correspondingly judged as occurring more frequently. The formation of a judgment is seen from the perspective of an information integration process. Two orthogonal dimensions of information integration -- interpersonal and intrapersonal -- are involved in group judgments. Interpersonal information integration concerns the aspect of information sharing among group members, and can be supported with the electronic communication channel of GSS. Intrapersonal information integration deals with the information processing capacities and capabilities of individuals, and is supportable using cognitive-support tools of GSS. A laboratory experiment with a 2x2 factorial design was conducted. One hundred and twenty subjects took part in the experiment. They were randomly allocated to 40 groups. Two experimental tasks, designed to examine the two judgment biases of interest, were solved by each group. Data pertaining to both processes and outcomes were collected and analyzed. Representativeness bias was reduced by the use of cognitive support, in the form of a problem representation tool. Groups with the problem representation tool made fewer references to diagnostic information versus base rate, leading to the use of more correct strategies which combined these two information sources. The use of the problem representation tool was found to be responsible for causing this chain of events. On the other hand, electronic communication did not lead to a similar change in the pattern of group processes, and, correspondingly, did not reduce the representativeness bias. Although electronic communication is capable of improving the interpersonal aspect of information integration, the representativeness bias is primarily a result of cognitive limitations, and benefits little from improved communication among group members. Availability bias was reduced by both cognitive support and communication support. Cognitive support, in the form of electronic brainstorming, increased the information search scope of issues, especially those issues of relatively low availability to the memory. Electronic communication allows parallel input and has a lower social presence than verbal communication. These features helped to reduce the extent of groupthink and widened the range of alternative solutions proposed. Some interaction effects were observed on group members’ perceptions of the group process. For example, communication medium had an effect on group members’ satisfaction in groups without cognitive support, but not those with cognitive support. Correspondingly, cognitive support affected some perceptual variables in verbally-communicating groups, but not electronically-communicating groups. Examples of such effects include an increase in perceived socio-emotional behavior and perceived informal leadership. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate

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The purpose of the study was to determine whether children's attitudes toward Negroes could be significantly changed in a favorable direction through use of specified informational procedures and to investigate changes in attitude in relation to personality adjustment. Three instructional approaches were employed as agents for attitude change and were identified as The Literature Approach, The Audio-Visual Presentation Approach, and The Combination Approach.The Literature Approach provided pupils with books about Negroes to be included as part of an independent reading program. The books held potential for providing readers with vicarious experiences of Negro life, both past and present.The Audio-Visual Presentation Approach provided pupils with five separate audio-visual presentations which introduced factual information about Negro heritage, his contribution to the national development, his emotional reaction to his environment, his present living style, and his continued role as recipient of prejudice based on myths.The Combination Approach combined the strategies of The Literature and The Audio-Visual Presentation Approaches. ProcedureThe population in the study was comprised of 241 sixth grade white children assigned to nine classrooms in four elementary schools located in rural, small town and suburban settings in midwestern United States. The population was divided into the Control Group and the three Experimental Groups. The research design incorporated the standard pretest-treatment-posttest plan.The Attitude Scale (adapted from a scale constructed by Harrison Gough, University of Minnesota), the California Test of Personality, Elementary Level, Form AA and an information test (constructed specifically for use in this study and based on the information presented) were employed to gather data. The analysis of variance was utilized in determining the variation of information gained and attitude change for the four groups. The treatment by levels design of analysis of variance was utilized (using the two independent variables: personality and treatment) in determining the variation in attitude change in relation to the four treatment groups and the three levels of personality adjustment scores on the California Test of Personality.Findings1. Information about Negroes was conveyed to a statistically significant extent to pupils through The Combination and The Audio-Visual Presentation Approaches.2. Changes in attitude toward Negroes were not altered to a significant degree. Changes that did occur, but that were not statistically significant, appeared in the direction of unproved attitudes on the part of The Combination and The Audio-Visual Presentation Approaches.3. The level of personality adjustment scores of the pupils was not significantly related to the extent of change in attitude toward Negroes of the four groups employed.4. The level of personality adjustment scores was not significantly related to the extent of change in attitude toward Negroes regardless of the Approach that was analyzed.Conclusions1. Specific audio-visual instructional approaches provided learning experiences which resulted in higher scores that were statistically significant on an information test.2. Pupils participated in discussions about Negroes after they viewed presentations of specific audio-visual materials.3. Most children evidenced interest in learning about Negroes.4. Pupils who received presentations of specific audio-visual materials read more available books about Negroes than children who did not receive special presentations.5. Attitude change toward Negroes appears to occur less rapidly than cognitive (information) growth.6. A positive relationship (though not statistically significant) appears discernable between increase in knowledge about the Negro and favorable attitude change toward Negroes.7. Personality adjustment scores as measured by the California Test of Personality were not significantly related to attitude change toward the Negro.