ABSTRACT

In this experimental study, we tested main and interaction effects of membership change and normative interventions aimed at increasing collaboration and participation on cognitive decline in groups. Three hundred participants were randomly assigned in one of the four types of groups (N = 75), based on crossing the independent variables, each with two conditions: membership change (most active member vs. least active member leaves the group) and normative interventions for achieving consensus (presence vs. absence of normative interventions). The results show that normative interventions reduce cognitive decline evaluated as the decrease in groups’ cognitive complexity, with groups that received normative interventions actually having a cognitive gain. Membership change did not have a significant effect on cognitive decline. In addition, results show that normative interventions attenuate the cognitive decline in the case of most active member’s departure. The results have important implications for group adaptation after membership loss.

摘要

在这项实验研究中，我们测试了成员变化和规范干预的主要影响和交互影响，旨在增加协作和参与对群体认知能力下降的影响。三百名参与者被随机分配到四种类型的组中的一种（N= 75），基于交叉自变量，每个变量都有两个条件：成员变化（最活跃的成员与最不活跃的成员离开小组）和达成共识的规范干预（存在与不存在规范干预）。结果表明，规范干预减少了认知能力下降，评估为群体认知复杂性的降低，而接受规范干预的群体实际上获得了认知增益。成员变化对认知能力下降没有显着影响。此外，结果表明，在最活跃成员离开的情况下，规范干预会减轻认知能力下降。结果对成员丧失后的群体适应具有重要意义。