Abstract
This research focuses on the effect environmentally-imposed psychological stress has on the concentration of influence in a collective problem-solving process. A small-group experiment tests the hypothesis that, all else equal and within some upper limit, higher levels of stress will produce more concentration of influence and lower levels of stress more dispersion of influence. Noise is used as the stressor in the experiment. The results support the hypothesis, although not unambiguously. They also provide guidance for design modifications and improved measurement, both of which are discussed.
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