The stepladder technique is a structured procedure designed to facilitate effective group decision making. The goal is to ensure that the thoughts and ideas of all members are made available to the group so that they can be considered while the group is reaching a decision. The importance of this goal is underscored by research by Gary [Page 851]Stasser, James Larson, and others indicating that groups frequently fail to consider relevant information and that this can seriously impair the quality of group decisions. This entry describes the technique and looks at research outcomes.

The stepladder technique was developed by Steven Rogelberg, Janet Barnes-Farrell, and Charles Lowe. It involves the sequential entry of members into a discussion group. The order in which members enter the group is ...