A balance theory approach to group problem solving

Autor: Adejumo, Gbemisola, Duimering, P. Robert, Zhong, Zhehui
Předmět:
Zdroj: Social Networks. Jan2008, Vol. 30 Issue 1, p83-99. 17p.
Abstrakt: Abstract: This paper presents a conceptualization of group problem solving based on Heider''s balance theory [Cartwright, D., Harary, F., 1956. Structural balance: a generalization of Heider''s theory. Psychological Review 63, 277–292; Heider, F., 1946. Attitudes and cognitive organization. Journal of Psychology 21, 107–112; Heider, F., 1958. The Psychology of Interpersonal Relations. Wiley, New York], in which the problem solving process is viewed as a struggle toward increasing structural balance. Balance theory provides a means of representing problems that captures both gestalt restructuring and incremental search aspects of the problem solving process. An experimental method based on a flexible card categorization task operationalizes this conceptual view in a group problem solving situation. Results of an experiment investigating the effects of certain properties of problem structure on group problem solving behavior and performance are reported. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
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