Effects of Trust Building Process on Perspective Taking in Collaborative Problem Solving: An Experimental Investigation Using Agents

Abstract

The present study investigated the influence of reflections on self/others’ trust within group-based problem solving. The study assessed the role of trust dynamics on perspective-taking activities within conflictive groups, extending the experimental framework used by a previous study and including conversational agents for controlling participants’ interactions related to trust dynamics and perspective taking behavior. Results showed that (1) reflections of self/other trust in conflictive groups may influence trust towards other members, and (2) reflections of trust by members with conflicting perspectives may facilitate trust and perspective taking process. This suggests that the level of trust dynamics facilitates trust and can function to manifest perspective taking within cooperative groups. The results of the study provide new knowledge in collaborative problem solving studies that the development of trust has a progressive effect on perspective taking activities among conflictive members.