Dialectical Interaction and Conceptual Learning
Summary
This project seeks to clarify the cognitive consequences of dialectical interaction, in which two or more people with roughly equal status but alternative viewpoints solve a problem or perform a task. We expect that the cognitive outcomes of such interaction will be strongly influenced by participants’ emotional reactions during discussion. In our basic experimental paradigm, two participants receive inconsistent information on an unfamiliar topic and then discuss this issue with one of several goals (e.g., reach consensus, win a debate). These discussions are audio- and video-taped, and interactants’ emotional reactions are assessed using facial signals and content-free vocal parameters of speech. In addition, we analyze the content of the discussions (e.g., number and accuracy of arguments). Cognitive outcomes of interaction are assessed using a variety of measures (e.g., recall tests, thought listing).
People
