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von, Zimmermann Jorina Helena. "The mechanics of group cohesion." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 2018. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/10041803/.
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Human history is inherently social and the study of groups is fundamental for understanding what it means to be human. Why do we form groups? How do we make sure that groups remain cohesive social entities and do not fall apart? It is the central aim of this thesis to explore the relationship between individuals and groups with a focus on the mechanisms which produce group cohesion. Researchers from different disciplines agree that studying group cohesion is paramount for understanding group dynamics. Here, group cohesion is not approached in relation to its structural properties, but the focus is directed towards its affective and social components. One of the premises is that cohesion plays a crucial role in the process of group formation. While group cohesion is often discussed in relation to social identity and other higher order cognitive processes, findings from the behavioural coordination literature suggest that there is also a physical dimension to group cohesion. Synchronous actions experienced between pairs or small groups of people have been reported to have pro-social consequences, such as increased liking or cooperation, and to create feelings of unity and similarity between people. However, to this date not many researchers have analysed the role of behavioural coordination or synchrony for the emergence and maintenance of cohesion in larger groups. This thesis aims to contribute to a now growing field, looking at this relationship. Novel data is presented, which shows that synchronous behaviour can have positive effects on levels of intragroup affiliation and unity. Group synchrony is portrayed as an important mechanism, which can enhance and signal cohesion in groups. The positive and negative social consequences of group cohesion are discussed and a novel and innovative research paradigm is presented, which has been developed to aid with the scientific investigation of intra- and intergroup dynamics.
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Bott, Kristie Lynn, and Michele Dawn Reed. "The effects of new members on perceived group cohesion." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2001. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/1929.
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Soboroff, Shane Drew. "Group size and the trust, cohesion, and commitment of group members." Diss., University of Iowa, 2012. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/3536.
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This research investigated the relationship between group size and the process of trust, cohesion, and commitment formation in joint-task groups. Specifically, the theory proposes that groups with greater six members will produce lower trust, cohesion, and commitment than those smaller than six members. Theory was developed linking group size to these processes through the mechanism of anticipated mutual perception, the amount an individual considers what others are thinking about them. Two experimental studies test the impact of anticipated mutual perception on interpersonal influence and trust, cohesion, and commitment. Study 1 tested the impact of being able to see a partner and closeness to a partner on a partner's level of influence over participants. Participants were more influenced by partners they could see than by partner's who were separated from the participant by place or time. Status differences also affected influence, even when partners were absent, having left information for use by participants.
Study 2 investigated how group size affected participant reports of interpersonal trust, cohesion, and commitment to other group members. Results suggest that members of larger groups had lower commitment to other group members, and that groups larger than six members were negatively associated with levels of trust reported by group members. Further, measures used to isolate aspects of anticipated mutual perception were shown to affect the development of interpersonal trust, cohesion, and commitment, in support of the theory. Group cohesion was found to vary with expectations of competence. These expectations significantly predicted measures of shared awareness capturing aspects of anticipated mutual perception, possibly offsetting negative effects of increasing group size. Study 2 also found evidence that group members prefer to work with groups made up of 4-6 members, consistent with the theory. This research has implications for the ways in which organizations structure group work. This research suggests that the size of the group as well as the characteristics of individuals and their interaction partners may affect how people form cohesive relationships. Trust is an important aspect of groups that promotes cooperation, commitment, and collective identity formation. Further, this research supports a growing literature on the ways that micro-interaction promotes commitment to organizations by promoting or detracting from attributions of positive sentiment to smaller, nested groups within those organizations.
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Geidner, Nicholas William. "The Role of Perceived Voluntary Group Cohesion on Participation in Voluntary Groups." The Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306774369.
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Raymond, Martin R. (Martin René). "The relationship between team success and within-group differences in group cohesion." Thesis, McGill University, 1995. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=35221.
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This study investigated the within-group differences in ice-time and experience with the team in task cohesion perceptions of college hockey players and their relationship with team performance success. One hundred and seventy-one male hockey players between the age of seventeen and twenty-two years, representing ten teams, answered the two task portions of the Group Environment Questionnaire, as well as a question concerning their feelings regarding the amount of ice-time received during games. The data was analysed using a 3 x 2 ANOVA for success by ice-time and success by experience with the team for each of the two measures of task cohesion. The results showed the more successful teams to be most cohesive, but significant (p $<$.05) within-group differences were only found among the veterans and rookies of the least successful teams. It was concluded that within-group differences in cohesion exist in teams of low levels of success, but that highly and moderately successful teams do not experience the phenomenon. Teams success may be the determinant of the existence of within-group differences in task cohesion.
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Kozma, Radoslav. "Siberian jay friendship test : A study on group cohesion." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Populationsbiologi och naturvårdsbiologi, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-154100.
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Group and family living is an integral part of many animals’ ecology. Thus the behavior became associated with plenty of advantages as well as disadvantages. However, rarely has the actual concept of the group been investigated. Questions such as, “What constitutes a ‘group’?” and “Do the individuals within these ‘groups’ associate with each other frequently enough to actually enjoy the benefits of group living?” are seldom asked. With these questions in mind, the aim of this study was to use Siberian jay (Perisoreus infaustus) individuals in their territories to explore and shed more light on the issue of the extent of group living. A working definition of a ‘group’ was made and subsequently the birds were observed in their natural habitat in northern Sweden during several seasons. Consequently, a pair-wise coherence index (CI) was created to quantify the levels of association between the individuals within each territory in order to investigate which possible factors affect the extent of the observed cohesion. Results of the study indicate that pair-wise cohesion was strongly dependent on the kinship of the birds. Moreover, it was found that the alpha and kin birds had significantly higher coherence values than the non kin birds. Thus, within a territory, it was the alpha and the kin birds that formed the core of the group with the non kin birds being much less associated with the other individuals. This was in contrast to the hypothesis, which predicted alpha birds to form the core of the group solely, with kin birds having significantly lower coherence. Interestingly, no effect of habitat type and season was found on the cohesion of the territorial group. Moreover, further evidence of sub-grouping was found even on the kinship level, thus suggesting yet more complex interplay between group cohesion and the group members. All in all, with the non kin birds having low coherence values, the study casts light on the fact that even if individuals are present in a territory, they might not necessarily be a tight unit and as such be unable to fully benefit from group living.
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Reed, Kelly Layne. "An exploration study of the relationship between effectiveness of filial therapy training groups and group cohesion." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2009. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9832/.
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This study examined the relationship of group cohesion among heterogeneous and homogeneous groups on individual treatment outcome of child-parent relationship therapy (CPRT). CPRT is a filial therapy model that targets the parent-child relationship as a means for preventing or improving child and/or family problems. This study included 30 parents or caregivers from 9 groups which met for 10 sessions. Participants qualified for this study if their groups ended with at least 3 group members and 2 leaders, all pretest and posttest data on their child between the ages of 2-11 was completed, and if they attended at least 6 of the 10 sessions. Correlation coefficients, t-tests, and effect sizes were calculated. Results demonstrated no statistically significant differences between pretests and posttests on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for all 30 participants; however, differences in measured effect (η2) between children identified with borderline and clinical behavior problems and children with normal behavior problems suggest that CPRT is more effective among children who demonstrate significant behavior problems. Perceived and observed group cohesion measurements demonstrated no significant difference at the individual outcome level. This finding suggests that group cohesion may not be related to individual outcome. Although there was no significant relationship between group cohesion and individual outcome for this study, results of the group measurements regarding engagement and group cohesiveness, coupled with previous studies on CPRT effectiveness, suggest that CPRT should be utilized in homogeneous groups.
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Chapman, Christopher L. "Clinical Prediction in Group Psychotherapy." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2010. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/2144.
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Prior research in individual therapy has provided evidence that therapists are poor predictors of client outcome without the aid of objective measures and often misjudge clients' perceptions of the therapeutic relationship. The focus of the current research was to conduct a similar study in a group setting. Therapists from a university counseling center and a state psychiatric hospital were recruited to test their accuracy in predicting client outcome, quality of therapeutic relationship and their own use of empirically supported group interventions. Results indicated that therapists are poor predictors of all three, providing support for the implementation of measure-based feedback systems to inform therapists about key information that may affect the effectiveness of group psychotherapy.
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DiPillo, Kaija A. "Diversity, Cohesion, and Groupthink in Higher Education: Group Characteristics and Groupthink Symptoms in Student Groups." Youngstown State University / OhioLINK, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1558780869354439.
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Khatamian, Far Parisa. "Group cohesion and collaborative information behaviour: An exploration of student experiences of university group work." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2020. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2363.
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Modern organisations heavily rely on using interdisciplinary teams to accomplish intellectually demanding tasks. The advent of the World Wide Web, the advancements in communication technological tools and easy access to high volumes of information through the Web provide expanded capacity for individuals to work together and fulfil their shared goal but true collaboration is far from straightforward. Teamwork skills are identified as a desirable and distinguishing attribute of the graduates whom employers seek to employ. Accordingly, higher education institutions lay particular emphasis on developing students’ collaborative skills by designing and incorporating group projects into courses. The findings of relevant research demonstrate that employers are still not satisfied with the newly-hired graduates’ performance and students also reflect negative attitudes towards university group work. In this regard, scholars attempt to gain a through and deep understanding of individuals’ collaborative information behaviour when working in group settings and identify the factors that can impact on this process.
This research, guided by the primary question of ‘How does group cohesion shape students’ collaborative information behaviour over the duration of group tasks?’ sought to explore the development of cohesion in student groups which has been widely recognised as an influential element in motivating group members to work collectively. Through a series of supporting research questions addressing the role that task cohesion, social cohesion and perceived cohesion play in students’ collaborative information behaviour, the work also aimed to find out how different dimensions of cohesion can have an impact on the way students make sense of the group task components, search for information and use information to accomplish group projects. This study took a qualitative approach and used Straussian grounded theory methodology to collect and analyse the data. Data collection was conducted by taking an in-depth interview approach through 10 semi-structured focus group sessions with student participants recruited from an Australian university who were undertaking project units as part of their degrees across any number of discipline areas over two successive semesters. Data was analysed using open, axial and selective coding following the Strauss and Corbin approach. Constant comparison of similarities and differences in the data enabled the researcher to elaborate on the identified concepts in terms of their properties and dimensions.
This study resulted in rich description of how different dimensions of group cohesion emerged and developed in student groups over the duration of completing the group task and its association with students’ collaborative and individual information behaviour practices. Results suggest that task cohesion exerted more meaningful impact on group process and outcomes in comparison with other aspects of cohesion. It was found that students’ collaborative information behaviour activities are shaped by their perceptions of group task cohesion developed through adopting shared leadership style, the level of task complexity and interdependence and group members’ composition in terms of similarity in aspirations and academic capability. With regard to social cohesion, familiarity was identified as a factor which had immediate impact on students’ feelings of attraction and liking towards the group which did not persist over time as it fell under the influence of group members’ commitment and active involvement in group task activities. Task cohesion was then recognised as an antecedent of social cohesion in student groups and participants’ interpretation of social cohesion was based on experiencing comfortable feeling with group members instead of developing collective sense of closeness and friendship. Experiencing such a feeling within the group plays a more influential role in motivating students to communicate easily and sharing their ideas In terms of perceived cohesion, the findings of this study indicated that students in this particular sample did not intend to develop a sense of belonging and attachment to the group. They were of the mindset that once they complete their group task, the group would be disbanded so there is no potential benefit of developing such a feeling in university group context.
This study highlighted the role of task design and its features on students’ collaboration as well as their choice of communication method throughout the group’s lifespan. At the early stages of the group project, the level of collaboration for identification of needed information to create a shared focus and define the project’s problem statement was heavily dependent upon the nature of the assessment task and its perceived complexity. Individual information searching was also identified as a common characteristic among all the research participants in this study but the structure of the assessment task determined the level of collaboration among members in regard to sharing information and evaluating the retrieved information in terms of relevancy and credibility. The evaluation and use of information sources to fulfil group task requirements was seen to be a collaborative activity in similar research studies but the findings from this study showed that groups assigned a highly structured task did not feel a need to have regular communication because their sub-tasks were not so much related to each other. This finding suggests that the outcomes of collaboration are not what most academics expect them to be as too little emphasis placed on the role of the task and more on the scale of the work to be delivered.
The key finding of this research is that the group ‘task’ drives the behaviours of students, as individuals and as a group member, and that assigning students a project to do as a group that is too large to be done individually will not drive genuine collaboration. This research suggests an addition to the Input, Mediator, Output, Input (IMOI) model that includes a Task Calibration step by academic staff, to define the primary outcome of any given assessment task as either ‘collaboration’ or ‘product’, rather than the hope that collaboration takes place in order to deliver a big product. This shows that true collaboration would not take place by assigning students a large-scale group project; instead the tasks should be designed and structured in a way to drive and reward collaboration
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Thompson, Nicholas Scott. "“The Friend Zone”- friendship moderates the impact of a web-based group dynamics application on group cohesion: a randomized trial." Thesis, Kansas State University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/32580.
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Master of Public Health<br>Department of Kinesiology<br>Brandon Irwin<br>Purpose: Face-to-face group dynamics-based (GDB) programs have been shown to be effective in promoting group cohesion and physical activity (PA). Recent evidence suggests that GDB principles can be successfully translated to web-based applications to impact group cohesion. The social nature of such applications allows for interactions to occur between friends and strangers alike, potentially moderating the effects of such GDB applications. Optimal group composition within GDB web applications has yet to be determined. The present study examines the moderating effects of group composition in a GDB application on group cohesion and PA.
Methods: Participants (n = 166) were randomized into same-sex pairs and then randomly assigned to an experimental condition: stranger (no app), stranger (using app), friend (using app) or individual control. Participants in all conditions performed two sets of planking exercises. In between sets, those in partnered conditions interacted with their partner using a GDB social media app, where they participated in a series of team-building activities. The main dependent variables were group cohesion and physical activity, calculated as the total persistence during Block 2, controlling for Block 1 persistence.
Results: Results indicate that the group integration dimensions of cohesion were higher in groups that used the application than those that did not (GI-T: p= .001; GI-S: p= .004). Friends that used the app reported greater cohesion across all dimensions than strangers that did the same (ATG-T: p= .006; ATG-S: p= .003; GI-T: p= .001; GI-S: p< .001). There was also a significant difference in PA (p=.004) between the two app-using conditions. However, there was no significant difference in PA between app using conditions and strangers that did not use the app (p= .495).
Conclusions: Group cohesion can be enhanced through the use of an online GDB application. Using an online GDB application with a friend is associated with higher levels of cohesion. Further research is necessary to identify effective online GDB applications for impacting physical activity and cohesion in field settings.
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Reed, Kelly Layne Ray Dee C. "An exploration study of the relationship between effectiveness of filial therapy training groups and group cohesion." [Denton, Tex.] : University of North Texas, 2009. http://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-9832.
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Soares, Ryan R. "THE IMPACT OF PERCEIVED RISK FROM CHALLENGE COURSES ON GROUP COHESION." DigitalCommons@CalPoly, 2010. https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/406.
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The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of perceived risk from high elements in a challenge course on group cohesion. Participants who have not participated in a challenge course will be selected from a First Year Experience cohort at a California State University (n=100). Six randomly selected teams of 12 to 17 people will participate in three and a half hour challenge course programs. Half of the groups completed only low elements, while the other half completed a combination of low and high elements. A pre, mid, and post test of the Group Cohesion Evaluation Questionnaire was administered. A One-way ANOVA between groups was performed to find statistical differences. It is hypothesized that participants will feel an increase in group cohesion as a result of perceived risk from high elements as opposed to those who participate in low elements only and do not feel perceived risk.
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Hudgins, Kenna D. "The Effect of Music Therapy on the Grief Process and Group Cohesion of Grief Support Groups." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1181099998.
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Estabrooks, Paul A. "The role of group cohesion in the exercise behaviour of older adults." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape10/PQDD_0011/NQ42516.pdf.
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Resheske, Mark G. "A descriptive study of job satisfaction and its relationship with group cohesion." Online version, 2001. http://www.uwstout.edu/lib/thesis/2001/2001resheskem.pdf.
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Zhao, Xin. "Asian College Students’ Perceived Peer Group Cohesion, Cultural Identity, and College Adjustment." DigitalCommons@USU, 2012. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/1336.
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Despite the increase in Asian college student population, this group remains one of the most understudied, due to the myth of “model minority.” Many Asian students adjust well academically but often experience high levels of stress, anxiety, or depression due to factors such as acculturation to Western culture, pressure from parents to succeed, ethnic identity issues, intergenerational conflict, immigration status, racism, and discrimination. This study examined the role of five dimensions of Asian values (collectivism, conformity to norms, emotional self-control, family recognition through achievement, and humility) as a moderator in the relationship among peer group cohesion and four dimensions of college adjustment (academic adjustment, social adjustment, personal-emotional adjustment, and attachment) among 150 Asian college students. Data were collected from Asian American and Asian international students attending a college in the United States who completed an online survey. Eighty percent of the students reported low college adjustment on one or more dimensions measured; however, personal-emotional adjustment and attachment was positively correlated with group cohesion. The results of the moderation analyses indicated that Asian value of humility moderated the effects of cohesion and personal emotional adjustment. Specifically, students who had lower Asian value of humility and high peer group cohesion also reported higher personal emotional adjustment. No other dimensions of Asian values were found to be significant moderators. Implications of the study in terms of future research and college programs for Asian students are discussed.
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Buchanan, Laurie Birch. "The Impact of Big Five Personality Characteristics on Group Cohesion and Creative Task Performance." Diss., Virginia Tech, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/30415.
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One of the most prominent trends in organizations today is the use of teams to accomplish the work once assigned to individuals. Team composition variables, including the personality characteristics of team members, need to be carefully considered so that the transition of work from individuals to teams results in performance improvements. The types of tasks relegated to teams also affect performance, and it is equally important that group tasks are clearly defined. As such, the current study explores the impact of Big Five personality patterns on both group cohesiveness and group performance on creative, brainstorming tasks. At the group level, it was predicted that teams with personality patterns consisting of moderate levels of Extraversion, high levels of Openness to Experience, and high levels of Conscientiousness (Optimal pattern) would perform significantly better on an innovative task than teams with personality patterns that varied from this pattern. It was also hypothesized that group cohesiveness would mediate this relationship. Of the 65 three-person groups, it was found that those possessing the Optimal pattern outperformed groups with three different patterns in terms of the quantity of creative ideas generated and average level of creativity. However, groups with the Optimal pattern generated more superior ideas than only one of the other pattern conditions, and contrary to predictions, did not generate a significantly higher percentage of superior ideas than any of the other pattern conditions. It was also found that group cohesion did not mediate the relationship between group-level personality and creative task performance. The implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.<br>Ph. D.
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Nishikawa, Mari. "Cohesion and behavioral synchrony among females in a wild group of Japanese macaques." 京都大学 (Kyoto University), 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2433/195960.
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Wong, Daphne S. L. "Exploring the impact of team building on group cohesion of a multicultural team." Thesis, Pepperdine University, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1602057.
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<p> This research explored the topic of team building for a multicultural team and investigated the impact on group cohesion. The participants were members of a work group, each of a different nationality. Review of existing literature revealed a list of team building elements most suited for the multicultural context. A team building program incorporating those elements and customized for the participant group was designed and implemented. Pre and post survey data showed no significant difference in group cohesion, although there was a slight increase in the score for task cohesion. Qualitative interview data, however, suggested a positive impact on group cohesion, with the impact perceived to be greater on task cohesion than social cohesion. Elements of the team building program that were found to be the most impactful were: it provided an opportunity to generate a deeper awareness of others, it provided an opportunity to generate deeper self-awareness, it provided a platform for team collaboration, and it contained fun and interesting activities.</p>
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Ober, Tristan. "The Gamble of Going Global : How Global Transnational Terrorist Networks Transform Group Cohesion." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för freds- och konfliktforskning, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-384384.
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With the rise of global transnational terrorist networks (GTTNs), there has been an increase in scholarly output on the subject. While many scholars have focused on the ways in which these networks enable terrorist organizations to achieve their goals, few have studied the transformative impact that GTTNs have on group cohesion. In order to fill this gap, I seek to answer the question how, if at all, GTTNs affect the likelihood of armed groups experiencing fragmentation. In doing so, I propose three ways in which GTTNs can influence cohesion among their members and explore these in the cases of al-Shabaab and Boko Haram, while using the Taliban as a counterfactual. Although I find that both GTTN members and non-members experience fragmentation, the ways in which fragmentation manifests itself differs. Whereas the Taliban experienced fragmentation following key events, al-Shabaab and Boko Haram experienced splits as a result of long-term processes. Thus, GTTN membership ostensibly reinforces internal processes that may cause factions to split from the organization, thereby increasing the risk of fragmentation. However, more research is required on the different ways through which GTTNs exert influence over their members and the effect this has on the risk of fragmentation.
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au, sudweeks@murdoch edu, and Fay Sudweeks. "Development and Leadership in Computer-Mediated Collaborative Groups." Murdoch University, 2004. http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20041206.122548.
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Computer-mediated collaboration is an important feature of modern organisational and educational settings. Despite its ever increasing popularity, it is still commonly compared unfavourably with face-to-face collaboration because non-verbal and paralinguistic cues are minimal. Although research on face-to-face group collaboration is well documented, less is known about computer-mediated collaboration.
The initial focus of this thesis was an in-depth analysis of a case study of a computer-mediated collaborative group. The case study was a large international group of volunteer researchers who collaborated on a two-year research project using asynchronous communication (email). This case study was a window on collaborative dialogue in the early 1990s (1992-94) at a time when information and communication technologies were at an early stage of development.
After identifying the issues emerging from this early case study, another case study using technologies and virtual environments developed over the past decade, was designed to further understand how groups work together on a collaborative activity. The second case study was a small group of students enrolled in a unit of study at Murdoch University who collaborated on a series of nine online workshops using synchronous communication (chat room). This case study was a window on collaborative dialogue in the year 2000 when information and communication technologies had developed at a rate which few people envisioned in the early 90s.
The primary aim of the research described in this thesis was to gain a better understanding of how computer-mediated collaborative communities develop and grow. In particular, the thesis addresses questions related to the developmental and leadership characteristics of collaborative groups.
Internet research requires a set of assumptions relating to ontology, epistemology, human nature and methodological approach that differs from traditional research assumptions. A research framework for Internet research Complementary Explorative Data Analysis (CEDA) was therefore developed and applied to the two case studies.
The results of the two case studies using the CEDA methodology indicate that computer-mediated collaborative groups are highly adaptive to the aim of the collaborative task to be completed, and the medium in which they collaborate. In the organisational setting, it has been found that virtual teams can devise and complete a collaborative task entirely online. It may be an advantage, but it is certainly not mandatory to have preliminary face-to-face discussions. What is more important is to ensure that time is allowed for an initial period of structuration which involves social interaction to develop a social presence and eventually cohesiveness. In the educational setting, a collaborative community increases pedagogical effectiveness. Providing collaborative projects and interdependent tasks promotes constructivist learning and a strong foundation for understanding how to collaborate in the global workplace. Again, this research has demonstrated that students can collaborate entirely online, although more pedagogical scaffolding may be required than in the organisational setting. The importance of initial social interaction to foster a sense of presence and community in a mediated environment has also been highlighted.
This research also provided greater understanding of emergent leadership in computer-mediated collaborative groups. It was found that sheer volume of words does not make a leader but frequent messages with topic-related content does contribute to leadership qualities.
The results described in this thesis have practical implications for managers of virtual teams and educators in e-learning.
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Smith, Stacy L. "Dead and still grateful: deriving mechanisms of social cohesion from deadhead culture." Diss., Kansas State University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/35464.
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Doctor of Philosophy<br>Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work<br>L. Frank Weyher<br>Deadheads (fans of the Grateful Dead) created a durable culture that has lasted for over 50 years despite the death of several band members and the break-up of the band in 1995. What mechanisms account for the rise and persistence of this culture? This empirical question informs a theoretical question: what mechanisms are responsible for social cohesion? Social cohesion has been widely studied in sociology, but because these studies range from sovereign states to interpersonal interaction, the field lacks definitional consensus for the term. Instead of focusing on definitions, therefore, this study instead seeks to contribute to the understanding of underlying mechanisms that are responsible for the development and maintenance of social cohesion. This study employs a mixture of qualitative methods: I conducted seven years of face-to-face and online participant observation, conducted 22 semi-structured, informal face-to-face interviews with 39 interviewees, and collected 86 online, long-form surveys (combined n=125). This study uses both inductive and deductive approaches to analyze material gathered from a mixture of qualitative methods: ethnography, open and closed coding of interviews and surveys, and triangulation to the body of historical work on the Grateful Dead. The mechanisms that emerged from this study suggest that processes related to ritual, religion, and identity, all operating through emotion, are central mechanisms in the longtime cohesion evidenced in the deadhead community. Fan behavior at Grateful Dead shows is reminiscent of Durkheim’s description of tribal behavior in The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, and my research shows that fans create collective effervescence, sacred objects, and feel that they are part of something larger than themselves. Randall Collins builds on Durkheim in his theory of Interaction Ritual Chains, which informs the ways in which deadheads, through engaging collectively in intense rituals, create a long-term sense of community. Finally, I explore the structural symbolic interactionist school of identity theory with Stryker, McCall and Simmons, and Burke. When combined, these theories describe influences on deadhead group composition, explore the complex interaction between the individual and the group, and emphasize the role that emotion plays in that identity-work. Using an inductive approach and Hedström and Swedberg’s (1996) typology of mechanisms, I arrive at a number of mechanisms at work in deadhead cohesion: (1) situational (macro-level) mechanisms include internal and external constraint; (2) individual action (micro-level) mechanisms include self-transcendence, self-reinforcement, and self-talk; and (3) transformational (micro-level to macro-level) mechanisms include group maintenance and disruption. Future work should test these mechanisms using a group that shares characteristics with deadhead culture (such as transience, emergence, boundedness, motivation, and with little official structure) such as the grassroots political movement that emerged after the November 2017 national election, as well as hate groups that have existed for years but have recently become more active. Looking forward, more work is needed on meaning-making and the role of emotions in social cohesion. This work has implications for several sociological disciplines, such as group behavior, social movements, and culture, as well as social cohesion, religion, ritual, and identity theory.
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Nicholas, Tessa Joseph Harmon William. "Imagining community individual influence and group cohesion in American avant-garde poetry and poetics /." Chapel Hill, N.C. : University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2008. http://dc.lib.unc.edu/u?/etd,1563.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2008.<br>Title from electronic title page (viewed Sep. 16, 2008). "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of English and Comparative Literature." Discipline: English; Department/School: English.
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Page, William Lloyd. "The development of group cohesion as it relates to satisfaction with adult Sunday school." Diss., Manhattan, Kan. : Kansas State University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/1359.
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Kuo, Ju-Lin. "Exploring the Connection Between Learner Interest and Group Cohesion in a Taiwanese EFL Classroom." Thesis, Griffith University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/367676.
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English language education in Taiwan is highly valued and supported by
educators and government policy makers. In response to the need to promote English
language knowledge and skills within Taiwanese schools, language teachers are
always considering how to improve materials and teaching methods to motivate
students’ positive engagement. Student motivation has been held to promote learning
in ways that shape how individuals respond during learning activities. Over the past
three decades, a number of motivational constructs have been well documented that
guide researchers in understanding the conceptual and procedural knowledge of
motivation. Among the many constructs, interest is of considerable importance for
educators, because interest-based engagement provides a direct link between interest
and school learning by motivating those that are normally academically unmotivated.
The benefits of interest-based learning in educational settings have been
investigated from different approaches. For example, individual interest is
conceptualized to be internally activated, whereas situational interest is
environmentally or externally activated. Researchers have also suggested that student
interest in learning is not only related to individual dispositions but is also related to
environmental factors. This is an indication that both individual and situational
interest may result in the facilitation of enhanced cognitive functioning and improved
learning.<br>Thesis (Professional Doctorate)<br>Doctor of Education (EdD)<br>School of Education and Professional Studies<br>Arts, Education and Law<br>Full Text
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Deckers, Marius [Verfasser], and Marcus [Akademischer Betreuer] Roth. "Group openness and cohesion as group personality characteristics – conceptualization, measurement and influence on training transfer / Marius Deckers ; Betreuer: Marcus Roth." Duisburg, 2020. http://d-nb.info/1222908786/34.
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Milella, Elisabetta. "The social impact of a flood on workers at a Pretoria hotel / E. Milella." Thesis, North-West University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/10312.
Full textAbstract:
In South Africa, January 2011 was characterised by above average rainfall which
resulted in many provinces being flooded. On the 17th of January 2011, the
government of South Africa declared the City of Tshwane a National Disaster Area. It
is in the city of Tshwane where a hotel was flooded causing great damage and
disruption to the lives of the hotel workers. Given the lack of existing research
focusing on the social dimensions of natural disasters, this provided an opportunity
to study the social impact of the flood on the community of hotel workers at a
Pretoria hotel. Four sub-aims were set for the study, which involved an exploration of
the strengths that were exhibited, discovered or developed as a result of the flood;
investigating the subjective experiences in relation to the flood; exploring the
interactional patterns and relationships of the hotel workers; as well as investigating
how the leadership of the hotel impacted on the manner in which the hotel workers
dealt with the flood. A qualitative methodology, guided by a social constructivist
epistemology was adopted as basis for the study. Data was gathered by means of
individual semi-structured interviews, semi-structured questionnaires, and a focus
group interview with a number of employees at the hotel. The data was subjected to
qualitative content and grounded theoretical analysis. Five main themes emerged
from the analysis, which include: Emotional responses, which included negative
emotions such as shock, fear, frustration and anger, as well as positive emotions
such as happiness and appreciation; a variety of interactional patterns and
relationships; increased cohesiveness; enhanced leadership, and the development
of group resilience.<br>MA, Medical Sociology, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2012
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Erdheim, Jesse. "POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE AFFECT: HOW DO THEY IMPACT HACKMAN’S (1987) MODEL OF GROUP EFFECTIVENESS." Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1170958005.
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Persson, Andreas, and Filicia Björkman. "Upplevelser av samarbete, sammanhållning, förtroende och kollegialt stöd i en statlig myndighets virtuella team: En kvalitativ intervjustudie." Thesis, Högskolan i Jönköping, Högskolan för lärande och kommunikation, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-29893.
Full textAbstract:
Studiens syfte var att undersöka individens upplevelse gällande samarbete, gruppsammanhållning, förtroende och kollegialt stöd i ett virtuellt team i jämförelse med ett traditionellt team. Studien genomfördes på en rikstäckande myndighet som arbetat med virtuella team i tio år. I studien deltog sju intervjupersoner varav fyra personer var män och tre personer kvinnor som valdes ut genom ett målstyrt urval. Personerna var mellan 28 och 62 år gamla och hade haft en anställning inom vald organisation under minst två år. Personerna ingick i samma team men hade olika platsbundenheter. Data samlades in genom semi-strukturerade intervjuer och analyserades med hjälp av en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultatet bekräftade tidigare teori om utmaningar i utvecklande av samarbete, gruppsammanhållning, förtroende och kollegialt stöd inom virtuella team. Intervjupersonerna upplevde ett starkare samarbete, gruppsammanhållning, förtroende och kollegialt stöd för de kollegor som var samplacerade och såg därmed ingen nytta av det virtuella teamet.
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Krogel, JulieAnn. "The Group Questionnaire: A New Measure of the Group Relationship." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2008. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/1732.
Full textAbstract:
The Group Questionnaire (GQ) is a 30-item, self-report measure of the group relationship that was developed in the present study. It is based off of Johnson's new three factor model of the group relationship which includes Positive Bonding, Positive Working, and Negative Relationship. This study involved two parts, the creation of the GQ followed by the validation and refinement of the GQ using 486 participants from three populations - outpatient university counseling center, inpatient state hospital, and non-patient AGPA process groups. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to test the goodness-of-fit of Johnson's model to each of the populations separately and as a whole. Following the refinement process, results showed the GQ to have good fit to the model for each population. Distinct differences in response pattern were found between the three populations. Reliability estimates were predominantly in the good range. Implications for future utility of the GQ include using it as a clinically relevant and efficient assessment tool to inform clinicians of the quality of the group psychotherapy relationship and to potentially predict group outcome.
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Gallagher, Meagan. "Relationships Among Attachment, Cohesion, Interpersonal Learning and Outcomes in Group Psychotherapy for Binge Eating Disorder." Thèse, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/23849.
Full textAbstract:
The current dissertation is comprised of two studies that examined the relationship between group dynamics, attachment anxiety, and post-treatment outcomes in a sample of women (N = 102) with binge eating disorder (BED) who received Group Psychodynamic Interpersonal Psychotherapy. The first study explored the relationship between the development of group cohesion, the individuals’ level of attachment anxiety, and frequency of binge eating, symptoms of depression, and self-esteem at post-treatment. The second study explored the relationship between the interpersonal learning, individuals’ level of attachment anxiety, and outcomes. Interpersonal learning was conceptualized as the convergence between multiple perspectives of group cohesion: one’s own and the group’s perception of one’s cohesion to the group. Parallel measures of individual self-rated cohesion (CQ-I) and mean group-rated cohesion (CQ-G) were developed based on the original Cohesion Questionnaire (CQ; Piper et al., 1983) for this study. Participants were assigned to homogeneous groups composed of either high or low attachment anxiety to assess the impact of pre-treatment attachment anxiety. Findings indicated significant growth in cohesion over time, and a significant convergence in multiple ratings of cohesion. These processes did not differ significantly based on level of attachment anxiety. Growth in cohesion was related to greater reductions in binge eating for those high in attachment anxiety, while the convergence in ratings of cohesion (i.e., interpersonal learning) was related to improvements in self-esteem for individuals in both attachment anxiety conditions. The findings support the importance of group interventions for BED that are sensitive to individuals’ attachment anxiety, and that emphasize cohesiveness, and interpersonal learning to improve outcomes.
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Svahn, Anna. "A relational perspective on athlete attachment and group cohesion: The moderating role of basic needs satisfaction." Thesis, Umeå universitet, Institutionen för psykologi, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-135917.
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Åkerberg, Annie. "Kvinnor som leder: att samarbeta, stödja och bli stöttad i arbetslivet." Thesis, Mälardalens högskola, Akademin för hållbar samhälls- och teknikutveckling, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-14918.
Full textAbstract:
Kvinnor har uppfattats som effektiva i ett transformativt ledarskap vilket även haft en positiv inverkan på ett effektivt samarbete i en arbetsgrupp. Ett effektivt samarbete krävde gemenskap i arbetsgruppen vilken kunde kompliceras av såväl arbetsrelaterade som relationsrelaterade konflikter. Åtta kvinnliga mellanchefer intervjuades med fokus på deras arbetssätt som chefer och deras uppfattningar om eventuella skillnader mellan manliga och kvinnliga medarbetare och kollegor i olika avseenden. Resultatet från en kvalitativ innehållsanalys visade att ett effektivt samarbete krävde såväl tydliga arbetsroller och mål som en gemenskap med och förståelse för varandra. Kvinnliga medarbetare upplevde ett behov av relationer i arbetsgruppen och ett psykosocialt stöd. Män upplevdes fokusera på arbetsuppgiften med behov av ett praktiskt stöd. Intervjudeltagarna ansåg att gemenskapen i arbetsgruppen oftast komplicerades av relationsrelaterade konflikter vilka även upplevdes problematiska att lösa. Samtliga intervjudeltagare hade erfarenhet av ett stödjande mentorskap och föredrog en kvinnlig mentor.
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Mesbah, Roya. "French national identity at the dawn of globalisation searching for a new cohesion." Columbus, Ohio : Ohio State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1206378121.
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Kader, Ariz. "Cults of Martyrdom : Exploring Rebel Cohesion Using Identity Fusion Theory." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för freds- och konfliktforskning, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-445194.
Full textAbstract:
The literature on rebel cohesion/fragmentation currently presents valid macro-level explanations for rebel group cohesion/fragmentation, yet no model currently exists exploring non-utility-based motivations regulating pro-group behaviour. This thesis tests the assumptions of a novel social psychological framework – Identity Fusion Theory – on rebel cohesion. Using a primarily quantitative approach applying a logistic regression model to primary data gathered on the Syrian Civil War, and a smaller qualitative element comparing groups with “fused” and “non-fused” memberships during the war, the thesis tests the hypothesis that “groups with highly fused memberships will be less likely to fragment during the course of a civil war than groups with non-fused memberships”. The results of the analysis show a strong, positive relationship between fused memberships and rebel cohesion. The results of the thesis are to some extent limited by potential omitted variable bias (suggested by high R2 values) and the use of Syria as the only population from which to sample. Nevertheless, the relatively large number of observations in the dataset (63) as well as heterogenous nature of groups involved suggest the findings are generalisable. In conclusion, we did find a positive relationship between fusion and rebel group cohesion. The main implications of this thesis being that future academic research may benefit from focusing on social psychological factors when examining rebel dynamics while policymakers potentially shape better responses to insurgencies and rebellions.
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Esakia, Andrey. "Development and Exploratory Findings of a Smartwatch Interface to Facilitate Group Cohesion in a Statewide Health Promotion Program." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/78889.
Full textAbstract:
Background: Physical inactivity of the general population is a major public health concern in the US and around the world. Community-based interventions that include evidence-based principles of group dynamics are effective at improving individual-level physical activity behaviors as well as changing social norms for health behaviors. The use of technologies such as smartwatches has a potential to channel and amplify underlying group dynamics principles in such interventions. In order to explore the use of smartwatches for group dynamics-based physical activity interventions, a smartwatch centered system was designed and deployed as part of an eight-week pilot study.
Objectives: The primary goal of this study was to explore the degree to which smartwatches effectively channel group dynamics strategies in the context of an eight-week community based physical activity intervention.
Methods: In this explanatory mixed-methods study, system usage data were analyzed (e.g., frequency of interaction with smartwatch and smartphone) and participant physical activity (e.g., participant steps tracked by the system). To provide a richer picture of the user experience, use of features, and impact of group dynamics, participants were invited to participate in one-on-one interviews after the pilot program. The group dynamics-based questions centered on the individual’s attraction to the group task and socially as well as the individual’s perception of group integration around the task and as a social unit (i.e., the four dimensions of cohesion). The interview recordings were transcribed verbatim and analyzed via an abbreviated grounded theory approach. The system usage data was visually and numerically summarized.
Results: Five of the seven participants completed interviews. The interview analysis resulted in 365 meaning units representing 2 themes (related to user experience with devices and manifestations of group dynamic principles), 4 sub-themes and 23 categories. The participants completed 31.3 (SD=2.91) miles per week and engaged with the smartwatch and the Android app 2.6 and 1.5 times a day, respectively. Analysis of interviews and the system usage logs from five participants, reveal sustained engagement with the smartwatch and the smartphone app. The system facilitated self-reflection and awareness in terms of physical activity levels, encouraged interactions with the team members and helped them to stay aware of the daily goals. Additionally, the participants reported habit formation in terms of wearing and using the smartwatch on the daily basis.
Implications: This study provides preliminary support that accessible information via the custom smartwatch watchface can be a viable solution for retaining higher participant engagement during group dynamics-based community interventions. Such devices can help expand group-dynamics interventions by making them less depended on in-person delivery methods.<br>Master of Science<br>Physical inactivity of the general population is a major public health concern in the US and around the world. Community-based interventions, with group dynamics strategies at the core, are effective at improving individual physical activity behaviors. The use of technologies such as smartwatches has potential to channel and amplify the underlying program principles in such interventions. This work presents a smartwatch-centered system to encourage group cohesion in physical activity interventions, exploring it as part of an eight-week study that revealed participant awareness of group performance through smartwatch interactions.
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Davidson, Rick, and n/a. "An examination into the ability of cooperative multiplayer computer games as a means to facilitate group cohesion." University of Canberra. Human & Biomedical Sciences, 2000. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20060704.122645.
Full textAbstract:
From an organisational perspective, the potential benefits of enhancing workplace cohesion
are many, amongst which an increase in employee performance would be the most tangible
and possibly the most desirable. The primary aim of the present research was to explore
the capacity to increase levels of cohesion, and therefore facilitate team building, through
the use of cooperative multiplayer computer gaming (CMCG). Study 1, involving 26 male
and 23 female university students, required participants to play two, twenty minute, games
of the commercially available computer game QUAKE(tm) as teams of 3 or of 4, against an
equal number of computer generated artificial intelligence opposition. The interpersonal
attraction and task focus facets of Cohesion, as well as Stress and Mood State, were
measured using self-report questionnaires at both the pre- and post-test stages of the
experiment. Results supported the prediction that exposing individuals to a computer game
of a cooperative and interdependent nature would increase self-rated levels of cohesion, on
both the interpersonal attraction and task focus sub-scales. Study 2 aimed to expand upon
the findings of study 1, increasing the generalisability of the study 1 findings by surveying
existing teams engaging in CMCG via the Internet. Those surveyed were individuals who
currently played the Team Fortress module of QUAKE�, and who belonged to a Team
Fortress Clan - the CMCG equivalent of a social sporting team. Individuals playing
QUAKE(tm) via the Internet were found to be as cohesed with their team members as were
the laboratory participants after the CMCG intervention. Further, important group dynamic
factors evident in Team Fortress Clans, such as success being linked with higher levels of
cohesion, were consistent with literary considerations regarding conventional, non-CMCG
teams. Additional research exploration is required regarding the utility of CMCG,
however, the present research indicates that such an exploration is warranted and should
produce positive and practical results.
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Kiesel, Claire Marie. "Perceptions of Collective Efficacy as a Mediator: An Examination of the Perceptions of Group Cohesion, Social Loafing, and Collective Efficacy." Xavier University / OhioLINK, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1534937246305126.
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Parkin, Glenda. "Confusion, clarity, cohesion, disintegration: a study of curriculum decision-making in citizenship education." Thesis, Curtin University, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/2305.
Full textAbstract:
In the last decade, the Commonwealth Government has relied increasingly on policy-induced consortia to implement its education policy initiatives. The study focused on education policy pertaining to citizenship education, and specifically on the recommendations of the Civics Expert Group's 1994 report Whereas the people...Civics and Citizenship Education. The then Commonwealth Government called for policy-induced consortia to submit applications as a means to implement the report's recommendations. As a result, the Western Australian Consortium for Citizenship Education was formed. The Consortiums submission for a grant to assist teachers to prepare curriculum materials for citizenship education was successful. The study examined the decisions made by the Consortium members in relation to the curriculum materials project.The study was informed by an examination of literature pertaining to citizenship and citizenship education, the implementation of public policy, and group and curriculum decision-making. The review of the literature concerning the constructs of 'citizen' highlighted the contested nature of citizenship. In turn, this is reflected in the debates about the nature of citizenship education. As well, the literature review revealed many models of policy implementation and group curriculum decision-making do not adequately reflect the complexities and realities of group decision-making processes. The models often ignore the socio-political dynamics of the group, particularly in a policy-induced consortium, which exists for a specific and limited purpose, where members owe allegiance to their institutions rather than the consortium and where the consortium is accountable to a government department for the management of the project.A case study approach using qualitative methods was used. These methods and approaches are most likely to capture and interpret the humanness of group decision-making. Moreover, they take into account the importance of the values each member of the Consortium brought to the group and recognise that each member constructed his/her meaning as a result of social interaction with other Consortium members.The case study focused on a detailed examination of the work of the Western Australian Consortium for Citizenship Education and especially on the sub-group of the Project Management Committee over eighteen months. The notion of 'critical decisions' was used to analyse the Consortium's decision-making. Each critical decision had significant consequences for the ongoing work of the Consortium. The nature of the Consortium's decision-making highlighted the overwhelming importance of social dynamics over curriculum decision-making.The intentions of the study were to build towards a more complete understanding of the socio-political nature of group curriculum decision-making; to contribute to theorising about the humanness of group curriculum decision-making; and to provide an informed perspective about the significance of the Commonwealth Government's intervention in education through the mechanism of policy-induced consortia.The thesis makes a contribution to the socio-political dimension of group curriculum decision-making in federations. It illustrates that curriculum policy delivery is a socio-political process focussing on interpersonal relationships rather than a rational or deliberative process based on educational outcomes.
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Morillo-Falero, Maria del Rosario. "Relatedness as an Indicator of Group Cohesion and Its Relationship to Outcomes of a Group-Based CBSM Intervention for Women Who have Completed Treatment for Breast Cancer." Scholarly Repository, 2009. http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_dissertations/293.
Full textAbstract:
Group delivered empirically supported therapies have been reported to have beneficial effects for cancer patients. However, little is known about the relationship between group cohesion and outcomes of these interventions. This study tested the hypothesis that group cohesion relates to the effects of a group intervention. Participants included 56 women with Stage I to II breast cancer who had completed a 10-week CBSM intervention 3 to 12 months after undergoing surgery and adjuvant therapy. Groups of 3 - 5 participants met weekly for sessions of approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes duration. All participants were assessed at baseline (2 weeks prior to beginning the intervention) and at follow-up (12 weeks after enrollment in the study). Cohesion was measured at the end of each intervention session by External Comfort (EC), a factor of the relatedness scale of the Stuttgarter Bogen instrument (1976). EC denotes an aspect of the sense of comfort of an individual within the group that is dependent on how the group participant relates to other members. EC score for session 9 (EC9), and change in EC from session 2 to session 9 (calculated as a change score, i.e., session 9 score minus session 2 score), were used for analyses as independent variables in simple linear regression models. Dependent variables were also calculated as a change score (i.e., follow-up minus baseline) and included benefit finding (Post Traumatic Growth Inventory PTGI, total score and its 5 factors), depression (CESD), urinary cortisol, and natural killer cell function (total percent, number and cytotoxicity). Results yielded a positive change in EC from session 2 to session 9 (M = 2.29, S.D. = 2.67). Regression analyses indicated a significant negative relationship between change in EC9 and change in total PTGI scores (beta= -.450, p= .011), and change in Factor 1 Relating to Others (beta=-.414, p=.021). A marginally significant negative relationship was observed between change in EC from session 2 to session 9 and the New Possibilities Factor of the PTGI (beta=-.323, p=.077). A median split, by change in EC, indicated that participants with high EC scores throughout the intervention showed an increase in total PTGI scores, and in two of the five PTGI factors at follow-up. In contrast, participants who initially scored lower values in EC showed no change in these variables. These results suggest that the longer it takes an individual to feel comfortable in the group, the less the individual would be able to find benefit from their cancer experience after the intervention.
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Alonso, Jennifer Tehani. "Cohesion's Relationship to Outcome in Group Psychotherapy: A Meta-Analytic Review of Empirical Research." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2011. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/2658.
Full textAbstract:
Research has consistently shown group psychotherapy to be an effective form of treatment. Group cohesiveness, the quantity and magnitude of the strength of the bonds within the group, has received considerable attention. This study describes the integration of the cohesion literature using a random effects meta-analysis to ascertain the magnitude of the relationship between cohesion and outcome as well as explore the effect specific group variables have on this association. Studies were included which measured the relationship between groups comprised of at least three members, included both an outcome and cohesion measure convertible to an effect size, and were published in English. 40 published studies, comprised of 3,323 participants, were analyzed and yielded an omnibus effect size of r = .25, suggesting a positive, moderate relationship exists between cohesion and outcome. Four group variables (group size, treatment duration, treatment setting, and group focus) and a client variable (age) demonstrated markedly stronger relationships with cohesion. The study also examined the most frequently used cohesion measures and definitions as they relate to their relationship to outcome and frequency of use. Clinical implications for group therapists are identified and future research suggested.
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Kurz, Daniel L. "Ourspace: the efficacy of a group dynamics-based social support application in increasing cohesion and physical activity." Thesis, Kansas State University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/20495.
Full textAbstract:
Master of Public Health<br>Kinesiology<br>Brandon Irwin<br>Background: Emerging technologies (i.e. smartphones, Internet) may be effective tools for promoting physical activity (PA); however few studies have provided effective means of using them to enhance social support. Face-to-face programs that use group dynamics-based (GDB) principles of behavior change have been shown to be highly effective in promoting group cohesion and PA however few studies have examined their effects in web-based programs. The present study examines the effect of a GDB application on group cohesion and PA. We expected partner’s level of presence to moderate this effect. Methods: Subjects (n=135) were randomized into same-sex dyads and randomized to an experimental condition: low cohesion/low presence (LC-LP), high cohesion/low presence (HC-LP), high cohesion/high presence (HC-HP), or individual. Participants performed two blocks of planking exercises (pre-post). Between blocks, participants in partnered conditions were met their partner using either a standard social support application (LC-LP) or a GDB social support application (HC-LP and HC-HP), where they participated in a series of team-building exercises. Individual subjects were given a rest period. Participants in the HC-HP saw a live video stream of their partner exercising during Block 2. Perception of cohesion was measured using a modified Physical Activity Group Environment-Questionnaire (PAGE-Q). PA was calculated as performance during Block 2 controlled for by performance during Block 1. Results: Findings show that perception of cohesion was higher for the HC-LP condition compared to the LC-LP conditions in three of the four cohesion dimensions: ATG-S(p=0.002), GI-T(p=0.002), GI-S(p=0.022), but not ATG-T(p=0.170). Cohesion means did not differ between HC-LP and HC-HP conditions. Only the HC-HP condition produced significant gains in PA compared to other conditions (HC-LP: p=0.044; LC-LP: p=0.018; Individual: p=0.001). Conclusions: Findings suggest that a GDB application may be an effective method of improving group cohesion, however it may be insufficient on its own to improve PA. Increasing presence may be an effective method of improving performance during a single session of PA, however further research is needed to determine its effect on long term behavior change.
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Castro, Hernandez Alberto. "Content and Temporal Analysis of Communications to Predict Task Cohesion in Software Development Global Teams." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2017. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc984118/.
Full textAbstract:
Virtual teams in industry are increasingly being used to develop software, create products, and accomplish tasks. However, analyzing those collaborations under same-time/different-place conditions is well-known to be difficult. In order to overcome some of these challenges, this research was concerned with the study of collaboration-based, content-based and temporal measures and their ability to predict cohesion within global software development projects. Messages were collected from three software development projects that involved students from two different countries. The similarities and quantities of these interactions were computed and analyzed at individual and group levels. Results of interaction-based metrics showed that the collaboration variables most related to Task Cohesion were Linguistic Style Matching and Information Exchange. The study also found that Information Exchange rate and Reply rate have a significant and positive correlation to Task Cohesion, a factor used to describe participants' engagement in the global software development process. This relation was also found at the Group level. All these results suggest that metrics based on rate can be very useful for predicting cohesion in virtual groups. Similarly, content features based on communication categories were used to improve the identification of Task Cohesion levels. This model showed mixed results, since only Work similarity and Social rate were found to be correlated with Task Cohesion. This result can be explained by how a group's cohesiveness is often associated with fairness and trust, and that these two factors are often achieved by increased social and work communications. Also, at a group-level, all models were found correlated to Task Cohesion, specifically, Similarity+Rate, which suggests that models that include social and work communication categories are also good predictors of team cohesiveness. Finally, temporal interaction similarity measures were calculated to assess their prediction capabilities in a global setting. Results showed a significant negative correlation between the Pacing Rate and Task Cohesion, which suggests that frequent communications increases the cohesion between team members. The study also found a positive correlation between Coherence Similarity and Task Cohesion, which indicates the importance of establishing a rhythm within a team. In addition, the temporal models at individual and group-levels were found to be good predictors of Task Cohesion, which indicates the existence of a strong effect of frequent and rhythmic communications on cohesion related to the task. The contributions in this dissertation are three fold. 1) Novel use of Temporal measures to describe a team's rhythmic interactions, 2) Development of new, quantifiable factors for analyzing different characteristics of a team's communications, 3) Identification of interesting factors for predicting Task Cohesion levels among global teams.
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Rajakumar, Nolan. "Why Empirical Studies of the Groupthink Model have Failed." Scholarship @ Claremont, 2019. https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/2080.
Full textAbstract:
The theory of groupthink has been highly beneficial in the study of how groups make decisions. It has permeated almost every field containing decision making groups. Despite its popularity, there has been a surprising lack of empirical support for the model. It is the aim of this paper to suggest a possible explanation for the current state of groupthink research. First the groupthink model is described briefly, followed by a look at several selected empirical and case studies of groupthink. A potential reason for the dearth of empirical is then proposed along with a suggestion for future groupthink research.
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Parkin, Glenda. "Confusion, clarity, cohesion, disintegration : a study of curriculum decision-making in citizenship education /." Curtin University of Technology, Faculty of Education, 2002. http://espace.library.curtin.edu.au:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=12507.
Full textAbstract:
In the last decade, the Commonwealth Government has relied increasingly on policy-induced consortia to implement its education policy initiatives. The study focused on education policy pertaining to citizenship education, and specifically on the recommendations of the Civics Expert Group's 1994 report Whereas the people...Civics and Citizenship Education. The then Commonwealth Government called for policy-induced consortia to submit applications as a means to implement the report's recommendations. As a result, the Western Australian Consortium for Citizenship Education was formed. The Consortiums submission for a grant to assist teachers to prepare curriculum materials for citizenship education was successful. The study examined the decisions made by the Consortium members in relation to the curriculum materials project.The study was informed by an examination of literature pertaining to citizenship and citizenship education, the implementation of public policy, and group and curriculum decision-making. The review of the literature concerning the constructs of 'citizen' highlighted the contested nature of citizenship. In turn, this is reflected in the debates about the nature of citizenship education. As well, the literature review revealed many models of policy implementation and group curriculum decision-making do not adequately reflect the complexities and realities of group decision-making processes. The models often ignore the socio-political dynamics of the group, particularly in a policy-induced consortium, which exists for a specific and limited purpose, where members owe allegiance to their institutions rather than the consortium and where the consortium is accountable to a government department for the management of the project.A case study approach using qualitative methods was used. These methods and approaches are most likely to capture and interpret ++<br>the humanness of group decision-making. Moreover, they take into account the importance of the values each member of the Consortium brought to the group and recognise that each member constructed his/her meaning as a result of social interaction with other Consortium members.The case study focused on a detailed examination of the work of the Western Australian Consortium for Citizenship Education and especially on the sub-group of the Project Management Committee over eighteen months. The notion of 'critical decisions' was used to analyse the Consortium's decision-making. Each critical decision had significant consequences for the ongoing work of the Consortium. The nature of the Consortium's decision-making highlighted the overwhelming importance of social dynamics over curriculum decision-making.The intentions of the study were to build towards a more complete understanding of the socio-political nature of group curriculum decision-making; to contribute to theorising about the humanness of group curriculum decision-making; and to provide an informed perspective about the significance of the Commonwealth Government's intervention in education through the mechanism of policy-induced consortia.The thesis makes a contribution to the socio-political dimension of group curriculum decision-making in federations. It illustrates that curriculum policy delivery is a socio-political process focussing on interpersonal relationships rather than a rational or deliberative process based on educational outcomes.
47
De, La Rosa Gabriel M. "TOWARDS AN UNDERSTANDING OF INDIVIDUAL RATINGS OF COHESION WITHIN WORK UNITS: A MULTILEVEL STUDY." Connect to this title online, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=bgsu1162249917.
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TUNG, LIN YU, and 林毓棟. "Military Chief Counselor’s Experience in Promoting Group Cohesion." Thesis, 2010. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/63052933349674492527.
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碩士<br>國防大學政治作戰學院<br>社會工作碩士班<br>98<br>Abstract
The key to improve a military company’s cohesion has been chief counselor’s main responsibility. This thesis intends to find out how they promote company’s group cohesion effectively.
Qualitative data are collected by two steps: First, a focus group of sixteen company chief counselors is formed to identify basic skill of consolidating group cohesion; Second, based on the information obtained from the first step, six awarded company chief counselors for their outstanding performance are interviewed to identify their tactics, methods and skills in promoting group cohesion.
In conclusion, the researcher analyzes the data with social cognitive theory, social exchange theory and empowerment perspective. Finally, several suggestions are made to improve current related policy.
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Miller, Steven J. "Group cohesion and performance in university concert bands." 2009. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:1462721.
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Hsieh, Pei-Hsuan, and 謝沛璇. "The Relationship Between Job Security and Group Cohesion." Thesis, 2012. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/80942182129833235161.
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碩士<br>中國文化大學<br>國際企業管理學系<br>100<br>The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between job security and group cohesion. Previous studies state that there may be an inconsistent relationship between job security and group cohesion. It is necessary to further clarify the relation-ship between job security and group cohesion. Data for this study were obtained by means of questionnaires from any industrial employees. The empirical result shows that job security and group cohesion is positively correlated, that is, the organization provid-ed more job security, the staff will show higher group cohesion. By the empirical results, I give some suggestions for future research proposals.