The process of brainstorming: An analysis with individual and group vocal parameters

Examined the relation of vocal behavior to leadership, group structure, and the production of ideas in 20 5-person brainstorming groups, totaling 100 undergraduates. On-off patterns of vocalization were recorded continuously from each group member and were coded via a system similar to that of J. Jaffe and S. Feldstein (1970). Ss completed background questionnaires and personality measures such as the Jenkins Activity Survey and the Eysenck Personality Inventory. Findings show that leaders talked more than others and, even when the amount of talk was controlled, leaders spent more time in turns and in the pauses before and after their turns. Ideas tended to follow periods of increased pausing between speakers rather than periods of increased talk. The information statistics H and T were used to characterize the structure of each group's transitional matrix of turn taking. The present data management system preserves all observations on their original time base, making it possible to analyze various time patterns in group interaction. (34 ref)