Small group task dynamics using a one-parameter inequality interaction model

Abstract

Human personality affect any human interaction including interactions in a small group trying to accomplish a shared goal. In this study, small group task dynamics was modelled based on Angle's one-parameter inequality interaction model which is founded on pairwise wealth exchange. The pairwise interaction in our model is an attempt to complete a portion of the pairs' tasks which depends on the pair's behavioral similarity and difference. For a small group of N = 5 agents, the resulting task distributions are well-fitted by Gamma distribution function. With increase in diversity, the peaks of the associated Gamma distributions shift to the left while the distributions widen. Consequently, group performance was quantified according to the behavioral cohesiveness and diversity needed to accomplish a certain task. Essentially, a focus task behavior vector f sets conduciveness of regions in behavior space in relation to the task. Resulting performance distributions reflect these regions.