INTERINDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE IN METACONTINGENCIES

Abstract

The primary unit of analysis in metacontingencies are interlocking- behavioral contingencies (IBCs) measured by their aggregate product (AP). The experimental literature has demonstrated selection APs by factors external to the group (also known as “cultural consequences”). By contrast, social interactions occurring inside of IBCs have received little examination, although they constitute a key element to understand different types of social dynamics. In this study interindividual performance and verbal interactions of individuals inside of IBCs were examined. Communication between participants in dyads was experimentally manipulated such that some dyads wore noise-cancelling headphones while working together and other group of dyads used headsets to talk to each other during the experimental session. Verbal interactions were measured using video/audio digital recordings. Three type of rules were presented to dyads to assess their effects on dyads performance under ambiguous circumstances throughout the task. Rules varied in their degree of ambiguity in each condition: high- (A), medium- (B), and low-explicit instructions (C). The order of rule presentation was alternated between groups. Our finding demonstrated significant differences in interpersonal performance between groups (verbal dyads vs nonverbal dyads). Overall, dyads spent more time engaging in cooperative verbal interactions than in any other type of verbal interaction, and similar acquisition patterns of these interactions were observed across dyads.