Sports Psychology - Group Dynamics And Group Cohesion

Question 1

What are the 4 features which a group has.

Answer 1

• Interaction between group members
• A collective identity
• Shared objectives
• Communication

Question 2

How does a collective identity encourage group cohesion?

Answer 2

A team wearing the same colour creates a feel of belonginess and motivates the team to work together.

Question 3

Define interaction (within a team)

Answer 3

The way players within a team work together to complete a task

Question 4

Provide 3 examples a team can communicate.

Answer 4

• Non verbally
• Verbally
• Coded plays

Question 5

How does a shared goal encourage group cohesion?

Answer 5

Acheiving a shared goal helps to bind people together so they commit to each other and work hard to acheive their goal.

Question 6

What are the 4 stages that a group goes through in order to begin working together well according to Tuckman.

Answer 6

1) Forming
2) Storming
3) Norming
4) Performing

Question 7

What takes place during the forming stage of tuckmans model?

Answer 7

• Team mates get to know each other and their weaknesses and strengths.

Question 8

What takes place during the storming phase of tuckman’s model.

Answer 8

• Conflict occurs as people establish their roles and positions

Question 9

What occurs during the norming phase in the Tuckman’s model.

Answer 9

• Cooperation with the team and conflicts are resolved

Question 10

What occurs during the performing phase in the tuckman’s model?

Answer 10

• Players support each other and understand their roles as a group and individual to reach their shared goals.

Question 11

Define cohesion.

Answer 11

The tendency the members of a team have to work together and achieve what they want to achieve.

Question 12

What are the two types of cohesion a team can have?

Answer 12

• Task

- Social

Question 13

What is co-action and provide a sporting example.

Answer 13

This is where everyone completes the task at the same time but separately. E.g everyone pulling in tug of war.

Question 14

What is interaction and provide a sporting example.

Answer 14

Where everyone completes different roles but have to integrate them all together. For example, the 11 players in football.

Question 15

List the 4 factors which may affect cohesion ( Carrons Antecendents).

Answer 15

Environmental factors - group size, age and geography.
Personal factors - Group similarity, aspirations
Team factors - Ability, desire for success
Leadership factors - Leader style

Question 16

What is task cohesion.

Answer 16

Where individuals work together to achieve an end goal.

Question 17

What is social cohesion.

Answer 17

Where individuals relate to each other to interact in a group

Question 18

Can good social cohesion be negative for a team?

Answer 18

Yes, it can lead to players all separating into smaller groups within the team.

Question 19

Which is more important for a team to have to reach success, task or social cohesion?

Answer 19

Task cohesion however a team with both will likely perform even better.

Question 20

What is Steiner’s model formula for productivity?

Answer 20

Actual productivity = Potential productivity - losses due to faulty processes

Question 21

What is actual productivity?

Answer 21

The performance of the team during the game.

Question 22

What is potential productivity?

Answer 22

The group’s maximum capability what at optimal cohesiveness.

Question 23

What are faulty processes?

Answer 23

The factors which go wrong in a game and reduce cohesiveness.

Question 24

What are two types of faulty processes which occur?

Answer 24

Coordination problems - Poor tactics

Motivational problems - Ringelman effect and social loafing

Question 25

Define the ringelman effect.

Answer 25

When group performance decreases with group size

Question 26

Provide 4 strategies on how to avoid social loafing (laziness) occurring.

Answer 26

• Punish social loafing publicly
• Ensure the leadership method matches the team
• Developing social cohesion within the team
• Highlight individual good performances

Question 27

What is social loafing

Answer 27

Individual loss of motivation in a team player due to a lack of performance identification