How Pre-deliberation Processes Predict Group Discussion: An Application of the Goals-Plans-Action Model

Abstract

The goal of the study was to investigate the role of pre-deliberation planning on the enactment of normative and informational influence attempts during group decision-making. The goals-plans-action model (Dillard, 1990) was used to frame the study. The participants (N=112) performed a judgmental group decision-making task. The results of the study support the GPA in several ways. Pre-deliberation plans were enacted in discussion. In support of the extant group literature, perceptions of the task type influenced the proportion of pre-deliberation informational plans. Post-discussion attitudes toward the group’s decision were related to goals and to the proportion of normative plans.