Consensus measurement in multi-participant conversations

Abstract

Pask's conversation theory is applied to a multi-participant (Internet) community striving for optimal mutual understanding and agreement. A system, ``BetVote'', to computerassist participants in such a process is described, as is its application in psychological and educational assessment and testing. The construction of relevant questions and answers for such a system is discussed, as is the reward structure to make the participants function honestly and realistically. BetVote is proposed as the best system also for opinion polling and arguments are given in support of this proposal. Applications to (group) decision making are discussed. Kybernetes, Vol. 30 No. 5/6, 2001, pp. 573-587. # MCB University Press, 0368-492X