Group Processes and Brainstorming Performance

Definition: In social psychology, a group is a collection of people characterized by interdependence and the potential for mutual interaction.
Interdependence: Members rely on each other to achieve specific goals; the group objective cannot be fulfilled without collaborative effort.
Interaction Requirement: Group status requires the opportunity for members to engage with one another (e.g., the san jose state psychology faculty qualifies as a group, whereas the entire university faculty does not due to limited interaction).

Social Approval: To satisfy the need for belongingness and gain acceptance from respected or admired peers.
Knowledge Acquisition: To gain or clarify information (e.g., classroom study groups).
Goal Attainment: To reach individual or professional objectives through collective resources (e.g., fraternities and sororities for networking).

Commitment: All groups possess a level of cohesiveness or commitment. Highly cohesive groups experience stronger members' commitment and higher rates of conformity.

Additive Task: Individual contributions are summed to determine the group effort (e.g., $4$ people pulling a rope). Theoretically, the group outperforms the average individual.
Compensatory Task: Individual contributions are averaged to determine the group score (e.g., a class average on an exam). The group average typically outperforms a random individual's score.
Disjunctive Task: Requires only one correct solution; success depends on the most competent member (e.g., a group solving a math problem).
Conjunctive Task: Every member must complete the task for the group to succeed; success is limited by the least competent member (e.g., a group running an obstacle course).

Assumption: Brainstorming is an additive task based on the belief that "two heads are better than one."
Standard Rules:
- Criticism is ruled out initially.
- Freewheeling suggestions are welcomed.
- Quantity is the primary goal.
- Combining and extending ideas is encouraged.
Research Reality: Brainstorming groups consistently perform worse than individuals working alone, generating fewer and less creative ideas.

Evaluation Apprehension: Fear of being judged as "stupid" or "crazy" by peers, even when criticism is officially discouraged.
Social Loafing (Free Riding): Reduced motivation to work hard because others are expected to pick up the slack.
Production Blocking: Productivity is hindered because members must wait their turn to speak, leading to forgotten or discarded ideas.
Social Comparison: Members monitor others' input and often match the performance of the least productive member to avoid being the only one doing the work.

Anonymous Writing: Writing ideas down beforehand and anonymously reduces evaluation apprehension and production blocking.
Objective Goals: Setting a target (e.g., at least $25$ ideas) and providing individual rewards for high output helps counteract social loafing and social comparison.