Final answer:
Newcomers to a new work environment tend to seek out task, role, and organization information to understand their responsibilities, position, and the company culture. They are influenced by informational social influence when situations are ambiguous and by normative social influence to fit in with the group.
Step-by-step explanation:
What kind of information do newcomers tend to seek out the most? The answer will vary depending on the context, but when orienting to a new work environment, newcomers often seek task information, role information, and organization information. However, when the specifics of the context and the types of information are not clearly outlined in the question, it is difficult to determine one single type of information that newcomers seek out the most.
It is important to understand that newcomers in a work environment will seek various types of information to help them integrate effectively. They may look for task information to understand what their daily responsibilities entail. They might seek out role information to clarify their position within the company and expectations. And they could enquire about organization information to learn about the company's culture, values, and goals.
While onboarding, social influences are also at play. In the process of acclimating to a new environment, newcomers are likely to be influenced by both normative and informational social influences. Informational social influence occurs when individuals conform because they believe the group is competent and has the correct information. This is more likely to happen when the answer to a situation is unclear or when the group has expertise. Conversely, normative social influence, as seen in the Asch conformity studies, involves conforming to a group norm to fit in and be accepted by the group.
In summary, while onboarding in a new job, the type of information most sought by newcomers will likely include a mix of task, role, and organization information, as they aim to understand their responsibilities, their position within the company, and the company culture, respectively.