9: Group dynamics

Question 1

Group dynamics

Answer 1

focuses on gaining knowledge about the nature of groups and their development, interrelationships of groups with individuals, other groups and larger institutional
Differ based on compositions
(Captain on one team and substitute players)
Individuals will contribute differently to group based on who else is in the group
(Same skill set but players around them have different skill set)

Question 2

Assembly effect

Answer 2

variation in group behaviour that are a function of particular combinations of individuals in group

Question 3

PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH GROUP EFFECTIVENESS

Answer 3

Communication:

• Providing opportunities to socialize to increase comfort levels among players
• Arrange dressing room so close enough to talk
• Encourage to modify dissenting ideas
• Promoting cooperation
• Reducing rivalry

Decision making:

• Group possesses more resources to inform a decision than one individual member, integrate information more meaningfully
• Majority rule (equal participation and power) more successful decisions but reflect conformity rather than true personal belief– groups more likely to groupthink (concurrence seeking becomes so dominant in cohesive groups that it tends to overshadow realistic appraisals of alternative courses of actions)

Cohesion: enhanced cohesion = key outcomes for both individual and team in sport setting

Question 4

Identify 4 characteristics of teams

Answer 4

Collective sense of identity 
Think of team as a whole
Distinctive roles
Structured modes of communication
Norms

Question 5

Roles

Answer 5

a set of behaviour expected from a person occupying a position in a specific context classified by FUNCTION

Question 6

Instrumental roles

Answer 6

directly related to the instrumental goals of group

Ex) Referee, coach, captain

Question 7

Social roles:

Answer 7

related to maintenance and harmony of the group

Ex) hype man (energize people), jokester, support person

Question 8

Formal roles:

Answer 8

prescribed by organization/person representing organization for the individual
Ex) Team captain, physiotherapist

Question 9

Informal roles

Answer 9

develops through interactions among group members

Ex) Highly skilled athlete– leading by example

Question 10

Role clarity

Answer 10

understand expectations asked of you

Question 11

Role ambiguity

Answer 11

lack of expectations associated with your position

Negatively related to task cohesion, athlete satisfaction, intentions to return to the same time

Question 12

Four dimensions to be communicated (formal roles): for role clarity

Answer 12

1The range of responsibilities an individual has on team
2Necessary behaviours required to fulfill responsibility
3How assigned role performance will be evaluated
4Consequences if role is not performed to standard

Question 13

Role acceptance

Answer 13

congruence between athletes perceived role responsibilities with the role expectations by those who are communicating the role
How much athlete agrees to the role expectations

Question 14

Role satisfaction:

Answer 14

how happy people are with their role

Question 15

Role dissatisfaction

Answer 15

unhappy with their role

Ex) Accepts being stroke, dissatisfied with being stroke

Question 16

Define group Cohesion

Answer 16

dynamic process where group sticks together and remain united until pursuit of instrumental objectives and/or satisfaction of member affective needs

Question 17

4 concepts of group cohesion

Answer 17

1. Dynamic not static: reasons for cohesion change overtime
   Ex) At first task based -> friendship based
2. Instrumental: groups form and stay together for a purpose
   Ex) Group forms for team, purpose= to get together and play
3. Affective needs: strong emotional ties among group members
   Ex) When groups form and stay together, see friendships between members
4. Multidimensional constructs (factors that hold groups together are varied and numerous)
   Ex) Factors vary between groups

Question 18

Task cohesion

Answer 18

group members willingness to work collectively to achieve a groups objectives
How well do players work together?
Do they know where the person with the ball is going?
Know game plan?
Work together and execute?

Question 19

Social cohesion:

Answer 19

Orientation towards developing and maintaining social relationships within the group
Do teammates get along?
Are group members friends?
Do personalities work together?

Question 20

Measuring Group Cohesion

Answer 20

Sociograms: diagrams that capture task and social relationships within a team
Sociometry: research technique that graphs and mathematically summarizes patterns of intermember relationships
Sport Cohesiveness Questionnaire
Group Environment Questionnaire

Question 21

Conceptual Model of Team Cohesion (slide 24): explains team cohesion

Answer 21

Individual Attractions: beliefs group members hold about personal benefits
Task: “I don’t like the stroke style of this team”
Social: “My friends are on the team”

Group integrations: belief members hold about the group as a collective
Task: “Our team is united trying to reach its goal”
Social: “Members of our team do not stick together outside of practice and games”

Question 22

Environmental Factors that influence team cohesion

Answer 22

Group size: more people = less cohesion
Level of competition: competition increases = decrease cohesion
Specific activity setting: setting which activity occurs

Question 23

Leadership Factors that influence group cohesion

Answer 23

-Leader’s behaviour
–Training and instruction:
—Clear instruction of skills ,techniques, tactics
—Role clarity
—Structuring and coordinating team member activities
–Social support
—Caring for athletes
—Fostering positive group atmosphere and warm relationships
–Positive Feedback
—Reinforcing an athlete by recognizing and rewarding strong performance and effort
-Decision style
–Autocratic: independent decision making and stresses personal authority
“My way or highway”
–Democratic: allows athlete participation in decisions
Group decisions about training, strategies

Question 24

Personal Factors that influence group cohesion

Answer 24

Individual adherence:
Perceive group as more cohesive = more likely to adhere to exercise or maintain sport participation

Individual effort
More cohesion = more effort in a team sport setting

Social loafing:
Reduction in individual effort when individuals work collectively compared to when they work alone

Individual sacrifice
Individual and teammate sacrifice contributes to task and social cohesion

Intention to return:
Return if high in social cohesiveness, regardless of where their team’s results

Self handicapping:
Using strategies that protect one’ self esteem by providing excuses for forthcoming events

Question 25

Team factors that influence group cohesion

Answer 25

-Team success (not sure direction of causes)
Task and social cohesion leads to team success AND/OR
Team success leads to perceptions of increases task and social cohesion
Important for success in highly interdependent sports (soccer, rugby, volleyball, basketball)
Can still have success without social cohesion

-Athlete’s Starting Status
When teams are not successful, non starters (bench) tend to perceive less task cohesion than starters

Collective Efficacy for Cohesion
Idea that groups have collective expectations for success

Psychological Momentum:
The “Big Mo”– team cohesion
Perception on the part of team members that team is progressing towards a goal
Highly cohesive teams = more psychological momentum

Question 26

Understand the relationship between team building and group cohesion

Answer 26

• Team building programs promote/build task and social cohesion
• -Programs that promote increased sense of team unity and cohesiveness. Enable team to work together more smoothly
• -Increased team cohesion = may lead to increased performance and athlete satisfaction

Question 27

Identity team building strategies in sport

Answer 27

Group goal setting

• Setting long and short term goals
• Strategies to reach goals
• All athletes must be involved in goal setting process
• Goals must be monitored and regular feedback provided

Creating opportunities for group interaction and communication

• Communication and interaction are essential for developing team cohesion
• Team kaders (coaches, captains) need to provide a supportive environment and context to have open communication

Creating a sense of group identity
Want to enhance group distinctiveness to create a group identity
1 Residential training camps
2Provide athletes with identical and unique clothing, logos, mottos
3 Develop team traditions and emphasize unique history
4 Foster pride in the group

Question 28

Team Building Model

Answer 28

Introduction
Brief overview of the benefits of cohesion and improved team outcomes

Conceptual
Frame of reference for participants
Cohesion = output/product of conditions from different categories
INPUTS: environment of group, structure of group
THROUGHOUT: Group processes

Practical
Purpose: have coaches and exercise leaders become active agents in developing practical strategies that they will use in their own group settings
Brainstorm as many specific techniques, procedures, protocols as possible to be used for team building
Asked to use distinctiveness, norms, positions, sacrifices, communication/interaction as frames of reference for generating their techniques

Interventions
Introduce team building protocols to groups