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Attributions for Poor Group Performance as a Predictor of Perspective-Taking and Subsequent Group Achievement: A Process Model

Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, reim{at}rz.uni-potsdam.de

Several studies on group problem solving have shown that perspective-taking may affect group performance. In this paper, a model is outlined in which the effect of performance attributions on group achievement is assumed to be mediated by the quality of group members' partner spaces (i.e. by their ability to recognize their partners' perspective on a problem). According to the model, the extent to which individuals try to take their partner's perspective is a function of their attributions for poor performance: the more group members attribute negative feedback on performance or disagreement about the correct problem solution to themselves relative to their partners, the more they will try to generate an adequate partner space. Additionally, it is assumed that the quality of the partner spaces has a direct impact on group achievement. These basic assumptions were confirmed by a study in which participants were asked to solve Tower of Hanoi problems in dyads, although attributions themselves did not directly predict achievement.

Key Words: attribution • group problem solving • partner space • Tower of Hanoi

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This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Reimer, T. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?