The effects of a “distinct window” screen design on computer-mediated group decision making

Abstract

An experiment was performed to test a “distinct-window” conferencing screen design as an electronic cue of social status differences in computer-mediated group decision-making. The screen design included one “distinct” window to symbolize high-status, and two “nondistinct” windows to symbolize low-status. The results indicated that the distinct-window screen design did produce status affects in groups of peers making decisions on judgmental problems. Randomly assigned occupants of the distinct window had greater influence on group decisions and member's attitudes than occupants of nondistinct windows.