Brainstorming procedure, group size, and sex as determinants of the problem-solving effectiveness of groups and individuals.

Used a 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 analysis of variance to assess (a) a modified brainstorming procedure in which a physical environmental influence was concordant with the task vs standard brainstorming, (b) sex of group (males vs females), (c) size of group (4 Ss vs 7 Ss), and (d) type of group (real vs nominal). The effect of the brainstorming treatments on males and females as individuals was also assessed. Ss were students in introductory psychology courses. The environmental concordance treatment reduced the effectiveness of the nominal groups but had no effect on real groups or individuals. Sex interacted with treatment, group size and type of group. 7-person, nominal groups outperformed 4-person, nominal groups, but there was no size effect for real groups. Nominal groups outperformed real groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)