Computer simulation as a research tool: The DISCUSS model of group decision making

The DISCUSS model illustrates how theoretical ideas about individual recall and integration of information can be combined to yield a model of group discussion and decision making and explored the impact of minorities on information sampling during discussion.

Abstract

Computer simulation is a useful means of representing and articulating social psychological theory. It is particularly useful for integrating separate theoretical propositions about human behavior into a single functioning model of social interaction. The DISCUSS model illustrates how theoretical ideas about individual recall and integration of information can be combined to yield a model of group discussion and decision making. By simulating information flow during discussion, the model accounted for the findings of Stasser and Titus (1985). They demonstrated that groups frequently fail to discover that their collective knowledge favors one alternative when their individually held information favors another. Moreover, model simulations suggested that this failure can occur even when members do not bias their contributions to discussion in order to support their preferences. Finally, the DISCUSS model was used to explore the impact of minorities on information sampling during discussion.