Anonymity in Group Support Systems Research: A New Conceptualization, Measure, and Contingency Framework.

Author List: Pinsonneault, Alain; HEPPEL, NELSON;
Journal of Management Information Systems, 1997, Volume 14, Issue 3, Page 89-108.
Anonymity is a fundamental concept in group support systems (GSS) research. It is expected to reduce fear of social disapproval and of evaluation, and to lower inhibition and censorship. This is believed to create an environment that improves participation and communication, that promotes more objective and honest evaluation of ideas, and that enhances the productivity of groups and their decision-making process. However, empirical evidence about what are the effects of anonymity in GSS is inconclusive. This paper argues that there are two main reasons for the lack of consistent findings. First is the fact that anonymity has been defined too narrowly as the nonidentification of participants when, in fact, the literature in social psychology suggests that anonymity is multidimensional and subjective in nature. Second is the fact that the effects of anonymity interacts with other situational variables, making its relation to disinhibition complex. This paper argues that one critical situational variable is the importance of social evaluation of group members. A measure of the new conceptualization of anonymity and of the importance of social evaluation is proposed and the results of a preliminary test are presented. A contingency approach for studying the effects of anonymity is presented and the implications for future research and for practice are discussed.
Keywords: anonymity;computer-based collaborative work;group decision making;group support systems
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#233 0.387 group gss support groups systems brainstorming research process electronic members results paper effects individual ebs using used anonymity ideas discussion
#157 0.105 evaluation effectiveness assessment evaluating paper objectives terms process assessing criteria evaluations methodology provides impact literature potential important evaluated identifying multiple
#173 0.069 effect impact affect results positive effects direct findings influence important positively model data suggest test factors negative affects significant relationship
#292 0.068 information research literature systems framework review paper theoretical based potential future implications practice discussed current concept propositions findings provided extant
#209 0.054 results study research information studies relationship size variables previous variable examining dependent increases empirical variance accounting independent demonstrate important addition
#234 0.054 social networks influence presence interactions network media networking diffusion implications individuals people results exchange paper sites evidence self-disclosure important examine
#121 0.053 human awareness conditions point access humans images accountability situational violations result reduce moderation gain people features presence increase uses means