The “Architectures” of Successful Remote Collaborative Problem Solving : Exploring Commitment in Dyadic Interaction

During successful collaborative problem solving (CPS), participants are expected not only to share and process information to solve the task, but also to show responsiveness and commitment to their partners. Accordingly, this exploratory study aims, via two contrasting cases, to acquire a preliminary understanding of how commitments and successful CPS come together in remote, dyadic interaction. To do so, the study relies on objective and subjective measures and combines group with individual levels of analysis on log files and cued interviews. The results revealed how commitments were interrelated with efficient coordination of interactions during CPS. Coordinated, well-communicated problem-solving trails, in turn, resulted in positive outcomes regarding the problem-solution. Thus, if commitments can reduce uncertainty of the partner’s actions, required in efficient coordination, to focus on the “anatomy” of commitments can provide us with a better understanding of what may (dis)favour successful CPS to take place in this context.