A Computerized Laboratory for Study of Status Generalization and Social Network Group Processes

在美国国家科学基金会的支持下。默里·韦伯斯特和约瑟夫·惠特迈耶将购买计算机和相关仪器，装备一个实验室来研究社会过程。实验室综合体的相关部分由八个小房间组成。参与实验的人坐在不同的房间里，房间里也有一台电脑终端、一台摄像机和一台监视器，用于所有的交流。通过这种方式，通信可以是完全开放的，或者可以根据需要创建有限的网络。从实验者到参与者以及参与者之间的信息内容既可以是真实的（真实的），也可以是受控的。例如，可以创建控制分歧来衡量绩效期望状态。NSF拨款将提供必要的仪器设备，包括一台Gateway P5-200计算机，8台Gateway P5-120终端计算机，连接终端到服务器的电缆，8台索尼摄像机和松下视频监视器以及其他相关软件设备。有了这个实验室，研究人员将研究两个基本的社会过程。第一种是地位概括，它围绕个人在群体情境中所带来的地位特征来构建面对面的互动。它的影响发生在以任务为中心的互动情况下，在这种情况下，个人为了解决问题或实现目标而聚在一起，比如在一个团队或陪审团中。根据观察到的特征，个人会形成绩效预期状态，这大致相当于执行任何与群体相关的任务的能力。许多理论假设这些期望状态是如何形成的，并随着时间的推移而改变，这些可以在实验室允许的受控情况下进行评估。第二个研究领域涉及交换网络以及结构权力如何在其中产生、维持和扩展。同样，实验室将允许研究人员创造可控的实验环境。这项研究很重要，因为它将揭示个体之间的相互作用。这个最先进的实验室也将提供一个模型，可能在其他大学和研究机构中复制。

With National Science Foundation support Drs. Murray Webster and Joseph Whitmeyer will purchase computer and related instrumentation of equip a laboratory to study social processes. The relevant part of the laboratory complex consists of eight small rooms. Participants in experiments are seated in separate rooms which also contain a computer terminal, a video camera and a monitor for all communication. In this way, communication can be completely open or limited networks can be created as needed. Information content, from experimenters to participants and between participants can either be veridical (true) or controlled. For example controlled disagreements can be created to measure performance expectation states. The NSF grant will provide the necessary instrumentation including a Gateway P5-200 computer, 8 Gateway P5-120 computers for terminals, cables to connect the terminals to server, 8 Sony video cameras and Panasonic video monitors and other related software are equipment. With this laboratory, the researchers will study two basic social process. The first involves status generalization which structures face to face interaction around the status characteristics individuals bring with them to group situations. Its effects occur in task-focused interaction situations, where individuals are together for the purpose of solving problems or achieving a goal, such as on a team or a jury. Based on observed characteristics, individuals develop performance expectation states which are roughly equivalent to ideas of ability to perform whatever task is relevant to a group. A number of theories postulate on how these expectation states form and can be altered over time and these can be evaluated in controlled situations which the laboratory permits. The second research area involves exchange networks and how structural power originates and is maintained and expanded within them. Again the laboratory will allow the investigators to create controlled experimental situations. This research is important for the light it will shed on interaction among individuals This state of the art laboratory will also provide a model which is likely to be reproduced in other universities and research settings.