Socially-shared cognition and consensus in small groups

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Cognitive Science
• Group Dynamics

Background:

• Socially-shared cognition is crucial for small group functioning.
• Information and preference sharing significantly influence group consensus.
• Existing literature organizes sharing contexts into problem-solving/decision-making and productivity tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent research on socially-shared cognition in small groups.
• To analyze the effects of information and preference sharing on group consensus.
• To examine the consequences of consensus and dissensus within groups.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on socially-shared cognition.
• Organization of reviewed literature by task context (problem-solving/decision-making vs. productivity).
• Thematic analysis of topics including hidden-profile situations, socio-cognitive conflict, shared mental models, transactive memory, and collective action.

Main Results:

• Information sharing in hidden-profile situations is a key challenge.
• Effective regulation of socio-cognitive conflict is vital for group cohesion.
• Shared mental models and transactive memory systems enhance group performance.
• Group members' motives, particularly relational ones, impact sharing behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Socially-shared cognition significantly shapes group consensus and outcomes.
• Task context influences the dynamics of information and preference sharing.
• Further research should explore the role of relational motives in group interactions.