My research interests lie at the intersection of social cognition and small group processes, two areas that I believe complement each other and are interrelated. My research is based on the premise that other people influence and shape how we think, and likewise, how we think impacts our interactions with others. For example, people often discuss their social perceptions with others or at least anticipate doing so. And, members of task-oriented groups hold expectations about themselves and others which impact how members interact, what information is discussed by the group, what decisions are made, and how the group members coordinate their activities.

Along these lines, my recent research has focused on how social perceptions are influenced by group discussion. Also, several research projects have centered on the role of cognition in group performance: how assumptions about members' knowledge and competence influences coordination attempts and information sharing during discussion.

Primary Interests:

Communication, Language
Group Processes
Interpersonal Processes
Judgment and Decision Making
Person Perception
Persuasion, Social Influence
Social Cognition

Communication, Language
Group Processes
Interpersonal Processes
Judgment and Decision Making

Person Perception
Persuasion, Social Influence
Social Cognition

Journal Articles:

Stasser, G., Stewart, D. D., & Wittenbaum, G. M. (1995). Expert roles and information exchange during discussion: The importance of knowing who knows what. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 31, 244-265.
Wittenbaum, G. M. (2000). The bias toward discussing shared information: Why are high status group members immune? Communication Research, 27, 379-401.
Wittenbaum, G. M. (1998). Information sampling in decision-making groups: The impact of members' task-relevant status. Small Group Research, 29, 57-84.
Wittenbaum, G. M., Hubbell, A. P., & Zuckerman, C. (1999). Mutual enhancement: Toward an understanding of the collective preference for shared information. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77, 967-978.
Wittenbaum, G. M., Merry, C. J., & Stasser, G. (1996). Tacit coordination in anticipation of small group task completion. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 32, 129-152.
Wittenbaum, G. M., & Moreland, R. L. (2008). Small group research in social psychology: Topics and trends over time. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 2, 187-203.
Wittenbaum, G. M., & Park, E. S. (2001). The collective preference for shared information. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 10, 70-73.
Wittenbaum, G. M., & Stasser, G. (1995). The role of prior expectancy and group discussion in the attribution of attitudes. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 31, 82-105.

Other Publications:

Wittenbaum, G. M., & Stasser, G. (1996). Management of information in small groups. In J. L. Nye & A. M. Brower (Eds.), What's social about social cognition? Research on socially shared cognition in small groups (pp. 3-28). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Wittenbaum, G. M., Vaughan, S. I., & Stasser, G. (1998). Coordination in task-performing groups. In R. S. Tindale, J. Edwards, E. J. Posavac, et al. (Eds.), Social psychological applications to social issues: Applications of theory and research on groups (pp. 177-204). New York: Plenum Press.

Courses Taught:

Applied Communication Research
Communicating the Self
Communicating the Self
Communication Research Design
Group Communication
Interpersonal Influence and Conflict
Introduction to Psychological Statistics Laboratory
Leadership and Group Communication
Social Cognition and Communication
Social Psychology
Statistics and Research Design

Introduction to Psychological Statistics Laboratory
Leadership and Group Communication
Social Cognition and Communication
Social Psychology
Statistics and Research Design

Gwen Wittenbaum
Department of Communication
473 Communication Arts Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
United States

Phone: (517) 353-8120
Fax: (517) 432-1192