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Vocal Accommodation, Influence, and Performance Expectations*

Joseph Dippong ^a

Zara Jillani ^b

^{^a}University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA

^{^b}University of Georgia, USA

Advances In Group Processes, Volume 41

ISBN: 978-1-83608-701-4, eISBN: 978-1-83608-700-7

Publication date: 6 December 2024

Abstract

Purpose

Status characteristics theory states that influence in small groups reflects the distribution of group members' status characteristics. This process is mediated by expectations for task performance. Vocal accommodation is an unobtrusive measure that indicates expectations. We test whether vocal accommodation predicts influence and then examine the role of expectations in this process.

Methodology

We conducted a laboratory experiment in which status-differ-entiated dyads completed a collective problem-solving task. We use a common measure of vocal accommodation to predict influence, and we employ questionnaire data to measure performance expectations. We hypothesize that the actor that exerts more effort in the synchronization process will have less influence over group decisions and that performance expectations will mediate the effect.

Findings

Results from GSEM analyses of 65 dyads show that levels of vocal accommodation significantly predict influence. Further analysis shows that performance expectations mediate a significant portion of the relationship between AAR and influence.

Research Implications

Vocal accommodation is useful for predicting both status perceptions and influence. Since this technique is an unobtrusive measure, it presents new possibilities for status research, including opening new lines of theoretical inquiry, providing a tool for conducting replications outside of the standard experimental setting, and for examining status organizing processes in a variety of environments.

Originality

We present a novel method for examining status outcomes, including a measure of influence that is analogous to existing measures that status scholars use but which is more suitable for studying status processes in open interaction.

Keywords

Citation

Dippong, J. and Jillani, Z. (2024), "Vocal Accommodation, Influence, and Performance Expectations* ", Thye, S.R., Kalkhoff, W. and Lawler, E.J. (Ed.) Advances In Group Processes, Volume 41 (Advances in Group Processes, Vol. 41), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 123-144. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0882-614520240000041006

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited