Task and Relationship Conflict Effects on Group Decision-Making

Two studies by Frank de Wit of Leiden University investigate how relationship conflict influences the effect of task conflict on group decision-making. The research hypothesizes and finds that misattribution of task conflict as relationship conflict, and the actual presence of relationship conflict, increases rigidity in holding suboptimal preferences. The effect on decision-making is attributed to biased use of available information.

Use Cases

• Modeling the interaction between task and relationship conflict based on the described experimental studies.
• Analyzing the effect of conflict misattribution on decision rigidity as described in Study 1.
• Investigating biased information processing during group conflicts as a mediator for decision quality.
• Testing theoretical assumptions about task conflict and critical thinking in group settings.

Strengths

• Based on two structured experimental studies testing a specific hypothesis.
• Builds upon findings from two cited meta-analyses (De Dreu & Weingart, 2003a; De Wit, Greer, & Jehn, 2011).
• Identifies a specific mechanism (biased information use) for the observed effect on decision-making.

Limitations

• Row count and dataset scale are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data is described as closed license, restricting access and reuse.

Provenance

Source

Frank de Wit, Leiden University

Collection Method

Experimental studies (Study 1 and Study 2) as described.