Relational Models Dissimilarity within and Across Situations: Understanding Conflict and Other Process Inefficiencies in Culturally Diverse Groups
42 Pages Posted: 5 Jun 2005
Date Written: June 1, 2005
Abstract
This empirical paper investigates how group members' dissimilar use of mental models of appropriate social interaction patterns affects group member interaction and the attitudinal and performance outcomes of culturally diverse groups. Narratives from 29 interviews with members of science research groups provide the data for an extension to Alan Fiske's relational models theory. The findings from this study indicate that relational models dissimilarity among group members increases conflict and deteriorates group interaction within a given situation. However, relational models dissimilarity is desirable when group members use different models across different situations as long as group members use the same relational model within each given situation.
Keywords: Relational models, cultural diversity, groups
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