Exploiting the diversity of expertise in a work team is a critical factor in maximizing group performance. This article attempts to assess several sources of influence on group member perceptions regarding the value of their input to the group as well as the level of member involvement in group activity. The participants selected for this study were 216 university students (108 men, 108 women) who were randomly assigned to 36 mixed-gender groups. Groups were required to generate a negotiation strategy for two business-related cases. Measures of individual interaction styles were provided by expert judges who viewed videotapes of the group discussions and observed member behavior. Participants completed questionnaires that assessed selfevaluations of their contributions to the group’s efforts. The findings of this study offer striking evidence that imputed expertise can clearly affect group member perceptions and behavior.
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