Dynamics of Individual Attitude Change During Discussion ((Markov)

50 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1984.Theory and research of social influence in groups do not address how individuals' attitudes change during discussion. Tests of the order, stationarity and homogeneity assumptions of Markov models precisely described changes in polling and stimulated recall measures of attitudes during discussion, in groups interacting with or without a consensus requirement. Different stationary, first-order Markov processes fit each set of measures, but a consensus requirement had no significant effect on the process of attitude change. Analysis of individual attitude trajectories showed a similar pattern of results. Postdiscussion responses exhibited limited evidence that polling was reactive. Changes in attitudes throughout discussion appear to depend on which positions individuals hold at the moment. Polls and stimulated recall ratings seem to be convergent measures, although the latter exhibit greater lability. Possible accounts for the lack of consensus effects are discussed, in addition to future issues for the dynamic study of group attitude change.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD