PERSONALITY PROBLEM-SOLVING PROCEDURE AND PERFORMANCE IN SMALL GROUPS

Exp. I compared a combination of group and individual brainstorming with simply individual brainstorming. Exp. II contrasted 3 problem-solving procedures: critical group problem solving, group brainstorming, and individual brainstorming. In Exp. II, all 3 procedures were divided into feedback and nonfeedback conditions. Feedback consisted of having undergraduates listen to the 1st 1/3 of their performance and then continue to work on the remainder. Performance under all conditions was correlated with personality variables derived from the CPI, the Fundamental Interpersonal Orientation-Behavior questionnaire, the Myer-Briggs Type Indicator, a vocabulary test, and 5 factors derived from a factor analysis of the CPI. Exp. I indicated that there is no difference between a combination of group and individual brainstorming and simply individual brainstorming. Exp. II indicated that individual brainstorming is superior to group brainstorming which is superior to group critical problem solving. Feedback had no effect on performance within procedures. The CPI Sociability scale and the 1st factor of the CPI were shown to be consistently related to performance under group problem-solving conditions. (2 p. ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.