Culture and Media Effects on Group Decision Making Under Majority Influence

39th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, Hawaii, January 4-7, 2006

11 Pages Posted: 23 Jan 2006 Last revised: 30 Sep 2009

See all articles by Dongsong Zhang

Dongsong Zhang

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Paul Benjamin Lowry

Virginia Tech - Pamplin College of Business

Xiaolan Fu

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) - Institute of Psychology

Lina Zhou

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Boonlit Adipat

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to address questions on how collectivistic and individualistic cultures affect majority influence in a group decision making task when there are differences in media richness. We developed a theory that explains and predicts these phenomena, and tested hypotheses using 112 four-person groups that consisted of Chinese and U.S. participants. As predicted, we found strong evidence indicating that there were significant differences between Chinese and U.S. groups, with Chinese groups being more prone to follow the view of majority. Further, traditional face-to-face (FtF) unsupported groups experienced the strongest majority influence. We found that GSS use helped diminish majority influence in both Chinese and U.S. groups. These findings have broad theoretical and applied implications, which are discussed in this paper.

Suggested Citation

Zhang, Dongsong and Lowry, Paul Benjamin and Fu, Xiaolan and Zhou, Lina and Adipat, Boonlit, Culture and Media Effects on Group Decision Making Under Majority Influence. 39th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, Hawaii, January 4-7, 2006, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=876063

Dongsong Zhang (Contact Author)

University of Maryland, Baltimore County ( email )

1000 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore, MD 21250
United States

Paul Benjamin Lowry

Virginia Tech - Pamplin College of Business ( email )

1016 Pamplin Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24061
United States

Xiaolan Fu

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) - Institute of Psychology ( email )

Lincui Road
Beijing
China

Lina Zhou

University of Maryland, Baltimore County ( email )

1000 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore, MD 21250
United States

Boonlit Adipat

University of Maryland, Baltimore County ( email )

1000 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore, MD 21250
United States

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