Chapter 2 Motivating Compliance after Conflict in a Group Setting
In: Communication and Conflict in Multiple SettingsSearch for other papers by Anthony M. Ocaña in
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Abstract
Working in groups is becoming increasingly common in the classroom, and with it the potential for conflict among students also increases. Barbara O’Keefe argues that people will use one of three message design logics (mdls) when responding in a conflict situation. 1 mdls are presumed to reflect the way a person views the purpose of communication in conflictual interactions, and will differ in effectiveness. Rhetorical mdls are considered the most sophisticated and effective, taking into account both the task and relational aspects of the conflict situation by showing flexibility and willingness to negotiate with the other. Expressive mdls are least effective typically, serving to vent one’s feelings rather than address the conflict constructively. Conventional mdls fall between rhetorical and expressive mdls in their effectiveness, invoking claims that the other is not acting according to understood rules. In O’Keefe’s original research, participants were asked to imagine a scenario in which they were a group leader and ‘Ron’ is a group member who has been causing problems and frustration for the rest of the group. While other researchers have also used the Ron scenario to assess participants’ mdl style, none appear to have directly addressed two issues that are implicit in that study: (1) what if you were Ron, the negligent group member; and (2) what are the effects of gender on perceptions of the situation? In our study, 237 respondents were asked to imagine that they were ‘Ron’ and had received a message from their group leader, Jack or Jill, written in one of the three mdl styles. Results indicated that mdl style, leader gender, and respondent gender affected respondents’ motivation to cooperate with the leader’s request to complete work for the group. Surprisingly, in this case, conventional mdl messages were the least effective in motivating cooperation.