The discourse of small groups of 3–4 adults enrolled in a graduate business course was audio-recorded as they participated in a computer-supported simulation in which the group represented a firm and worked over a series of eight sessions in making a series of decisions. Discourse transcripts were analyzed using a coding scheme that classified utterances expressed during group interaction as types of topic-talk (constituting a part of the activity itself) vs. meta-talk (reflecting on the activity). Supporting our hypothesis regarding the importance of meta-level discourse about group process in a group’s achieving coordinated action and a successful outcome, analysis suggested that discourse about the group’s process, but not discourse about individuals’ actions, was associated with superior group outcomes.

中文翻译：

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谈论小组（而非个人）过程有助于小组绩效

参加研究生商业课程的3至4名成年人的小组讨论的录音，因为他们参加了计算机支持的模拟，该小组代表一家公司并进行了八次会议，以制定一系列决策。话语成绩单使用一种编码方案进行了分析，该方案将在小组互动中表达的话语分为话题对话（构成活动本身的一部分）和元对话（反映活动）的类型。为了支持我们的假设，即关于小组过程的元级话语在小组实现协调行动和成功结果中的重要性的分析，分析表明，关于小组过程的话语，而非对个人行动的话语，与优越的小组结果有关。