Culturally homogeneous and heterogeneous groups: explaining communication processes through individualism-collectivism and self-construal

Abstract The objective of the study was to test the position of the effective decision-making theory ( Oetzel et al., 1995 ) that process differences in culturally homogeneous and heterogeneous groups can be explained by group composition, cultural individualism–collectivism (I–C) and self-construal. Sixty-two Japanese and 86 European Americans participated in a decision-making activity in either a homogeneous or a heterogeneous group. The major findings are: (1) Heterogeneous groups are more likely to have unequal distribution of turns and to utilize majority decisions than homogeneous groups; (2) Homogeneous Japanese groups have fewer conflicts, use more co-operative conflict tactics, and fewer competitive conflict tactics than homogeneous European American groups; (3) Groups composed of members with high independent self-construals are more likely to use competitive tactics and less likely to use co-operative tactics than group composed of members with low independent self-construals; and (4) Groups composed of members with varying levels of independent or interdependent self-construals are more likely to have unequal distribution of turns than group composed of members with similar levels of independent or interdependent self-construals. Implications, future directions, and limitations are discussed.