Testing the Seseragi Hypothesis: Talking time predicts the emergence of leaders in small groups.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2020.101409

Explanation

This study tests the hypothesis of the "flickering hypothesis" of leadership, since the large positive correlation between speaking time and leader emergence is well established.

The rustling hypothesis of leadership suggests that only the quantity of talk, not the quality of talk, determines the emergence of leaders. Some studies have argued for a causal effect of speaking time on leader emergence, based on experimental studies.

However, participants' communication, access to reliable information, or both are limited, and other studies have used more ecologically valid designs that do not always control for relevant participant characteristics and roles, suggesting potential endogenous effects.

Therefore, in order to test the murmuring hypothesis, research that is ecologically valid and supports strong inferences is needed.