Group dynamics

Question 1

Define ‘group’

Answer 1

A collection of individuals who share a common goal and interact with each other

Question 2

What are the two types of group dynamics?

Answer 2

Cohesion and performance

Question 3

What are the two types of cohesion?

Answer 3

Task (working together to achieve a goal)

Social (strength of relationships)

Question 4

What are the affects on cohesion?

Answer 4

• Do the team share the same ethos/ goals set by the leader?
• Member characteristics (e.g. personality, age and experience etc.)
• Sub groups (conflict of interest within a group or team)
• Size of the group
• Results
• Strength and characteristics of the leader
• Type of cohesion for the type of sport

Question 5

How do results affect cohesion?

Answer 5

Winning increases task cohesion

Losing decrease social cohesion but may motivate players to work together

Question 6

Give examples of type of cohesion for the type of sport

Answer 6

Interactive e.g. rugby (better task cohesion)

Coactive e.g. athletics (better social cohesion)

Question 7

What is Steiner’s model of group performance?

Answer 7

Actual performance = potential performance - losses due to faulty processes

Question 8

What did Steiner mean by ‘faulty processes’?

Answer 8

Coordination problems (synchronisation of the group and operational efficiency of each individual working together)
Motivational problems

Question 9

Describe the Ringlemann effect

Answer 9

The term given to the hindering of performance due to co-ordination issues specifically the size of the group, as the tam six increases, performance decreases

Question 10

How did Ringlemann study the effect?

Answer 10

He studied tug-of-war teams, a team of 8 did not exert 8x more force than 1 person, a team of 8 only exerted the same amount of force as a team of 4

Question 11

Define ‘social loafing’

Answer 11

When an individual of a team withdraws their effort due to a loss of motivation

Question 12

What is the Tuckman process?

Answer 12

Group development through stages of forming, storming, norming and performing

Question 13

What characteristics did Tuckman focus on in each stage?

Answer 13

Decision making, role of the leader, relationship within the group and independence of group members

Question 14

Describe the forming stage

Answer 14

• Reliant on leader, some attempt to define the job that needs to be done
• Leader is a role model of desired behaviour
• Most people feel anxious so tend to be polite
• Uncertain roles so look to leader for guidance

Question 15

Describe the storming stage

Answer 15

• Question authority and hierarchy, some try to take over
• Leader co-ordinate everyone’s complaints
• Team members resist task demands
• Increased confidence to dispute authority

Question 16

Describe the norming stage

Answer 16

• Team collaboration
• Disagreements resolved by leader
• Increased tolerance, some restrain from expressing their views to avoid conflict
• Increased acceptance of others

Question 17

Describe the performing stage

Answer 17

• Roles established
• Team decisions
• Some teams may revert to storming stage, most collaborate
• Share a common focus

Question 18

What are the causes of social loafing?

Answer 18

• Feeling undervalued
• Lack of feedback
• Low perception of ability
• Don’t share the same goals as the group
• Past experience and results
• Mental health
• Perception of other team members not trying