User 1

Grad student. Motivated and independent generally, but different in group decision-making process. Socializes very often.

• Takes group up to 20 minutes to decide, depending on whether there's a leader.
• Role in process: Non-confrontational, goes along with the group's decision.

User 2

Grad student. Knows what he wants for himself, but very indifferent in a group. Socializes once a week.

• Takes group 3 to 15 minutes to decide.
• Strategy: Someone suggests a place to go, waits for everyone else to approve.
• Role: Non-confrontational personality, goes along with the group's decision.

User 3

Grad student. Active in the decision-making process, but not always to positive effect. Socializes once a week.

• Takes group up to 20 minutes to decide, depending on whether there's a leader and whether people have strong preferences.
• Problems: Sometimes no one makes a suggestion, or the suggester gives up too easily.
• Strategy: Look for suggestions strongly preferred by most people. Sometimes takes way too long.
• Role: Decision-maker when he has a strong preference; decision-rejector or passive otherwise.

User 4

Grad student. Can't make decisions easily. Socializes about twice a month.

• Takes from several minutes to half of a day to decide, depending on group's size.
• Problem: Difficult to satisfy everyone in a large group.
• Strategy: Have a decisive and persuasive person in the group.
• Role: Decision-rejector, non-confrontational personality.

User 5

Undergrad. Socializes about once a week.

• Tries to decide in the time it takes to reach the destination.
• Problems: Dietary preferences (e.g., vegetarianism), people who tend to reject suggestions, one friend who has very narrow restaurant preferences
• Role: Generally agrees with group suggestion.