Biased Information Search in Group Decision Making

1
Biased Information Searchin Group Decision
Making

• By Schulz-Hardt, Stefan, Dieter, Carsten, Serge
• July, 2004
• Helayne Sweet

2
Background and Importance of Question Addressed

• Question is -gt How do biased information-seeking
  processes occur within groups and to what extent?
• Article presented 3 experiments to demonstrate
  extent to which biased information searches
  appear in decision making.
• What is biased information-seeking or
  confirmation bias?
• Relates to preference for supporting information
  vs. conflicting information when making decisions
• Importance -gt because decisions with
  far-reaching implications are most often made by
  groups vs. individuals.

3
Background/Study Methods

• Three experiments to examine confirmation bias
  and group decision-making
• Experiment 1 -gtLooked at groups as sum of
  individual preferences (assumed strength of bias
  depended on distribution of group members
  decision preferences).
• Experiment 2 -gt Used experts/managers in
  experiment
• Exoerunebt 3 -gt Looked at difference between
  heterogeneous vs. homogeneous groups

4
Study Methods (continued)/Results

• Three areas of reseach about belief that groups
  perform more balanced information searching than
  individuals
• In experiment 1 -gt groups were to determine best
  approach for new curriculum for economic sciences
  program using case study approach (scenario of
  industrial company should invest/not invest in
  another developing country)
• Allowed for selection of articles (55 ration of
  supporting vs. conflicting articles prior to
  group discussion)
• Examined individual preferences, results-gt groups
  accentuate dominate tendencies (supporting
  information is a dominant bias)
• In experiment 2 -gt used experts instead which
  lead to better validity of results. Result -gt
  the greater the diversity of the individual
  preferences in the group, the more reliance on
  shared information (supporting information). Used
  same ratio as above
• In experiment 3 -gt focused on difference between
  homogeneous and heterogeneous groups used
  different case study - gt did not allow for review
  of articles until after discussion. Also
  implemented rating approach for how important
  good decision making was for each member in
  group, how certain they were about correctness of
  decision and difficulty of obtaining decision.
  Also asked how sympathetic they judged each of
  the other group members.

5
General Conclusions

• Depending on impact of decision, homogeneous
  groups may be appropriate (even though they show
  premature convergence and defective information
  searching capabilities).
• Advantage of heterogeneous group using group
  processes implies occurrence of bias in early
  stages of decision process more preventable.

6
Discussion

• Case Study Assume you have opportunity to form
  decision making group for purposes of deciding
  how many life preservers you should have on the
  Titanic. What type of group would you form?
• What type of group decision-making do you think
  was made in real situation? Why?