HELP-SEEKING BEHAVIOR IN A TASK-ORIENTED DYADIC INTERACTION.

Thirty pairs of female Ss were administered a questionnaire consisting of 40 factual items. Each S had the option of either answering each question independently or seeking help from her partner. The Ss' performances on the questionnaire yielded two independent variables which were used to predict and account for help-seeking and help-giving behavior in a task-oriented dyadic interaction involving identification of objects on Holtzman inkblots. The dependent variables consisted of explicit or direct requests for help, indirect requests for help, acquiescent responses, rejections of offered help, and unsolicited help-giving. The results indicated that significant portions of the dyadic interactions on the Holtzman task were predictable from the nature of the Ss' help-seeking behavior on the questionnaire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]