Majority and Minority Subgroup Argumentation Messages

Abstract

Past research suggests that majority and minority subgroups influence group members in different ways. This exploratory study examined the communication behind such influence, specifically the argumentation messages majority and minority subgroup members use in decision-making. Using an argumentation coding scheme to analyze city commission meetings, communicative differences were found in relation to the two subgroups. Specifically, majority members focused on coalition formation messages while minority members focused on substantive argumentation. In general, the results provide an explanatory communicative foundation for the cognitive outcomes found in previous majority/minority influence literature.