Social Cues as Information Sources. Extensions and Refinements.

Recent laboratory studies supporting the Social Information Processing model of task design have been subjected to a number of methodological criticisms. To put the model to a more thorough test, a laboratory study employing a relatively realistic 2x2x2 design was conducted. One factor was task design enriched or unenriched, another was social cues from a confederate co-worker positive of negative, and the third was social cues from a confederate supervisor positive or negative. While manipulation checks clearly supported the validity of the design, few significant relationships were found. Two follow-up studies designed to test the effects of cue frequency were then conducted. Again, few significant results were obtained. Patterns of findings across all published SIP laboratory studies are then assimilated and discussed. Finally, implications for future theoretical and empirical research are explored.