Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper is a report of findings from a study of small group decision–making in the context of crisis intervention. I used an experimental simulation research design to investigate the different roles that homogeneous and diverse groups might play in the decision process. This study was partially derived from a framework developed by Hermann, Stein, Sundelius, and Walker (2001) that models the different ways that groups and individuals approach conflict intervention. Briefly, the authors proposed that groups approach internal conflict in three ways: they may avoid conflict altogether, accept conflict, or wish to resolve conflict. Hermann et al also outlined the types of decisions that groups make: Dominant, Subset, Integrative, and Deadlock. In an effort to determine if the group's approach to internal conflict will determine the type of decision outcome, I built a homogenous group around each conflict approach and constructed one diverse group. I further divided these groups by decision rule, majority rule or consensus, for a total of 8 groups of three people each. All groups were asked to decide whether or not to intervene in a fictional civil conflict in a neighboring country. The subjects answered a short questionnaire and also tape-recorded their discussions. The implications of this study for the field of conflict resolution will be to clarify the structure and process of group decision-making in crisis intervention.