The effects of proportional representation on intragroup behavior in mixed-race decision-making groups

Ji Li, Leonard Karakowsky, Jacob P. Siegel

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

    29 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Drawing on Kanter's (1977) observations and assertions, this study employs a structural approach to examine the influence of group racial composition on the behavior of group members. To be specific, this study assesses the effects of proportional representation on the behavior of Asian group members who were assigned to one of three types of groups: all-Asian groups, Asian-Caucasian balanced groups, and Caucasian-dominated groups. Groups were assigned the task of discussing and generating a solution for a managerial case scenario. The discussions were videotaped and viewed by independent judges who evaluated patterns of intragroup behavior, including levels of participation and leadership behavior among group members. The findings suggest that proportional representation can act as a significant source of influence on behavior of group members. We conclude this article with a discussion of the implications of these findings from both a practical and theoretical perspective.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)259-279
    Number of pages21
    JournalSmall Group Research
    Volume30
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 1999

    Scopus Subject Areas

    • Social Psychology
    • Applied Psychology

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