Member characteristics and social processes that determine influence in problem-solving groups were examined. University students completed a non-eureka intellective task-the Desert Survival Situation-both individually and in small groups. LEVEL-adjusted correlations and EQS structural modeling revealed that the extent of talking was predicted by dominance and confidence, but not actual expertise. Perceived expertise was most closely predicted by the extent of talking. Perceived expertise mediated the relation between talking and influence. Groups attempted to base decisions on expertise, but were not proficient at recognizing expertise. Additional analyses, which examined the impact of 8 influence tactics, indicated that the tactics of reason and autocracy predicted perceived expertise. Group performance was related to level of member expertise and recognition of expertise.In this study we examined social processes that may affect group performance on non-eureka-type intellective tasks. These are tasks in which the group is responsible for determining a solution to a problem that has an objectively correct solution but is difficult to verify (Laughlin, 1980;McGrath, 1984). Such tasks are common in business and personal life. Specifically, we examined the input variables of member dominance, extroversion, confidence, and expertise on processes and outcomes. We also examined the impact of the process variables of participation and the use of specific influence tactics on outcomes. Two outcomes were examined: the degree of influence that each member exerted on the group decision and the overall level of group performance. The role of perceived expertise as a mediator of relations between input and process variables and influence also was explored.The dominant theoretical perspectives on group performance consist of input-process-output models (Guzzo &
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