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Thin slices of negotiation: predicting outcomes from conversational dynamics within the first 5 minutes
Jared R Curhan1, Alex Pentland
1Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142-1347, USA. curhan@post.harvard.edu
Abstract:
In this research the authors examined whether conversational dynamics occurring within the first 5 minutes of a negotiation can predict negotiated outcomes. In a simulated employment negotiation, microcoding conducted by a computer showed that activity level, conversational engagement, prosodic emphasis, and vocal mirroring predicted 30% of the variance in individual outcomes. The conversational dynamics associated with success among high-status parties were different from those associated with success among low-status parties. Results are interpreted in light of theory and research exploring the predictive power of "thin slices" of behavior (N. Ambady & R. Rosenthal, 1992). Implications include the development of new technology to diagnose and improve negotiation processes.
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