VERBAL COMMENTS, IDEAS, FEEDBACK, AND SELF-ASSESSMENT DURING SMALL-GROUP DISCUSSIONS

(preparation of a time capsule), the effect of positive and negative feedback on a number of personal and interpersonal variables was examined using repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance. The production of ideas decreased under both conditions, but more dis-tinctly so under conditions ofpositive feedback. Increase in self-confidence and decrease in anxiety occurred under both conditions, but more markedly so under conditions of negative feedback. As communication is a fundamental element of human exis-tence, it is not surprising that interactants are concerned with, or at least interested in, such things as the nature of messages transmitted and received, the potential influence of feedback, and self-assess-ments that relate to the effect that participation has upon feelings and attitudes. When individuals participate in communication in various set-tings it is often obvious that some have a desire to control or dom-inate proceedings. This concept of communicative dominance has been related to talkativeness (Hayes & Meltzer, 1974) and to class-room control (Flanders, 1970; Sirotnik, 1983) and has been estab-lished as a clearly identifiable dimension of communicator style (Norton, 1978, 1983). In considering dominance as an attribute of some communicators it is important to keep in mind that verbal dominance does not necessarily equate with constructive output