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Research Note: Individual Cognition and Dual-Task Interference in Group Support Systems

Author

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  • William G. Heninger

    (School of Accountancy, Marriott School, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602)

  • Alan R. Dennis

    (Operations and Decision Technologies Department, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405)

  • Kelly McNamara Hilmer

    (Operations and Decision Technologies Department, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405)

Abstract

Previous research shows that synchronous text discussion through group support systems (GSS) can improve the exchange of information within teams, but this improved information exchange usually does not improve decisions because participants fail to process the new information they receive. This study examined one potential cause for this failure: Dual-task interference caused by the need to concurrently process new information from others while also contributing one’s own information to the discussion. Although prior research argues that dual-task interference should be minimal, we found that it significantly reduced participants’ information processing and led to lower decision quality. The effect sizes were large, suggesting that dual-task interference is one of a handful of major factors that exert the greatest influence on information processing and decision-making performance. We believe that these results call for an increased emphasis on and understanding of the cognitive underpinnings of GSS and virtual team decision making.

Suggested Citation

  • William G. Heninger & Alan R. Dennis & Kelly McNamara Hilmer, 2006. "Research Note: Individual Cognition and Dual-Task Interference in Group Support Systems," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 17(4), pages 415-424, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:17:y:2006:i:4:p:415-424
    DOI: 10.1287/isre.1060.0102
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Lionel P. Robert Jr & Alan R. Dennis & Manju K. Ahuja, 2018. "Differences are Different: Examining the Effects of Communication Media on the Impacts of Racial and Gender Diversity in Decision-Making Teams," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 29(3), pages 525-545, September.
    2. Alan R. Dennis & Lionel P. Robert & Aaron M. Curtis & Stacy T. Kowalczyk & Bryan K. Hasty, 2012. "Research Note ---Trust Is in the Eye of the Beholder: A Vignette Study of Postevent Behavioral Controls' Effects on Individual Trust in Virtual Teams," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 23(2), pages 546-558, June.
    3. Lionel P. Robert & Alan R. Dennis & Manju K. Ahuja, 2008. "Social Capital and Knowledge Integration in Digitally Enabled Teams," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 19(3), pages 314-334, September.
    4. Gwendolyn L. Kolfschoten & Frances M. T. Brazier, 2013. "Cognitive Load in Collaboration: Convergence," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 975-996, September.
    5. Valerie L. Bartelt & Alan R. Dennis & Lingyao Yuan & Jordan B. Barlow, 2013. "Individual Priming in Virtual Team Decision-Making," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 873-896, September.
    6. Antonio Ferreira & Pedro Antunes & Valeria Herskovic, 2011. "Improving Group Attention: An Experiment with Synchronous Brainstorming," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 20(5), pages 643-666, September.
    7. K Akdim & Luis V. Casaló, 2023. "Perceived value of AI-based recommendations service: the case of voice assistants," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 17(1), pages 81-112, March.
    8. Jeffrey L. Jenkins & Bonnie Brinton Anderson & Anthony Vance & C. Brock Kirwan & David Eargle, 2016. "More Harm Than Good? How Messages That Interrupt Can Make Us Vulnerable," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 27(4), pages 880-896, December.
    9. Cahill, Daniel & Ho, Choy Yeing (Chloe) & Yang, Joey W., 2022. "The COVID-19 pandemic: How important is face-to-face interaction for information dissemination?," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    10. Liu, Yi & Jin, Justin, 2023. "Social distancing and local bias," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).

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