Effect of the amount of task-relevant information on shared mental models in computer-mediated and face-to-face teams: Is more always better?

The effect of the amount of task-relevant information on shared mental models in computer-mediated and face-to-face settings was examined. A 3 × 2 factorial design combining the amount of information with communication modes was administered through a simulated experiment. Results showed that the effects of the amount of information on the formation of shared mental models were discrepant. In the computer-mediated setting, the sharedness of mental models increased as the amount of information increased; in the face-to-face setting, the sharedness of mental models declined as the amount of information increased. The reversed results under the two communication settings extend the shared mental models theory into more contingent facets. Theoretical interpretations and limitations are discussed.