Verbal interaction in a social dilemma
View / Open Files
Publication Date
2022-05-25Journal Title
Rationality and Society
ISSN
1043-4631
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Type
Article
This Version
AM
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Osman, M., Adams, Z., Ryterska, A., & Sharma, D. (2022). Verbal interaction in a social dilemma. Rationality and Society https://doi.org/10.1177/10434631221094555
Abstract
This paper presents the first sociolinguistic examination of communication in social dilemmas. 90 participants (18 groups of 5) completed a modified public goods game with 2 rounds: an effort-based task and an unscripted online chat about the results. A linear regression shows that consensus-building language in the Round 1 chat affects cooperative behaviour in the Round 2 task. A qualitative analysis of 3 groups explored how participants use different recognisable styles of communication (registers), to strategically align with or disalign from one another (stancetaking). Each analysis is complemented with a quantitative visualisation of how (dis)alignment between participants unfolds in real-time. We found that successful groups employ registers associated with collective action, such as gameshow talk (“ouch. £69 out of a possible £120”), to encourage, punish, and pledge allegiance to one another. Less successful groups use registers that risk evoking mistrust and reducing obligation, such as business talk (“I approve”). We argue that a mixed methods approach to interaction and behaviour can reveal incremental shifts in consensus building that underpin quantitative outcomes.
Sponsorship
Economic and Social Research Council (ES/P011403/1)
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/10434631221094555
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/334979
Statistics
Total file downloads (since January 2020). For more information on metrics see the
IRUS guide.
Recommended or similar items
The current recommendation prototype on the Apollo Repository will be turned off on 03 February 2023. Although the pilot has been fruitful for both parties, the service provider IKVA is focusing on horizon scanning products and so the recommender service can no longer be supported. We recognise the importance of recommender services in supporting research discovery and are evaluating offerings from other service providers. If you would like to offer feedback on this decision please contact us on: support@repository.cam.ac.uk