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Interruption and Influence in Discussion Groups

Victoria University of Wellington

Mark Brooke

University of Otago

Michael Dunne

Victoria University of Wellington

This study examines two aspects of conversational behavior that might lead to high perceived social influence in newly formed discussion groups, namely, to gain speaking turns by interrupting others and, conversely, to retain speakership against others' interruptions. Subjects discussed the issue of euthanasia and afterward ranked their own and each other's influence. Relative to low-ranking members, high-ranking members were more successful in interrupting others and in gaining speaking turns by other, noninterruptive means. When being interrupted, high-ranking members were better able to maintain the floor. However, the former also yielded to interruptions more frequently, probably because of the larger number of overall interruptions they received. Further analysis showed that certain speech acts (dissent, offer, reply) were more strongly associated than others (consent, reaction, request) with the successful enactment of interruptions and that, contrary to stereotypic beliefs, interruptions were not always disruptive but couldfunction constructively in rescuingandpromotinggroup discussion.

Journal of Language and Social Psychology, Vol. 14, No. 4, 369-381 (1995)
DOI: 10.1177/0261927X950144003


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