How Should Kids Decide Which Idea Is Better?: Understanding Children’s Perceptions of Group Decision-Making

Abstract

This article examined children’s perception of effective group decision-making. Sixty-eight fourth-grade students were interviewed after completing up to eight group discussions on complex topics. The interview transcripts were analyzed through a unique coding scheme developed to capture both the reasoning components and social dynamics involved in the decision-making process. Results showed that children’s perception of group decision-making included four major aspects: making choices, considering alternatives, clarifying ideas, and working collaboratively.