Nonequivalent Associations Between Forms of Cohesiveness and Group-Related Outcomes: Evidence for Multidimensionality

Abstract This study contrasted different forms of group cohesiveness in a student military organization. A questionnaire assessing task cohesion, interpersonal cohesion, role uncertainty, and group performance processes was administered to members of nine large-scale cadet squadrons in the United States. Two behavioral outcomes, individual performance and absenteeism, were also assessed. Individual correlations adjusted for group-level effects indicated that task cohesiveness was more strongly associated with lower role uncertainty, higher individual performance, and lower absenteeism than was interpersonal cohesiveness. These analyses also showed equally strong associations between group performance processes and both forms of cohesion. Taken together, the data provide evidence for a multidimensional rather than a unitary perspective of group cohesiveness.

[1]  L. Festinger,et al.  Social pressures in informal groups , 1950 .

[2]  K. Back.  The exertion of influence through social communication. , 1950 .

[3]  L. Festinger.  Informal social communication. , 1950, Psychological review.

[4]  S. Schachter.  Deviation, rejection, and communication. , 1951, Journal of abnormal psychology.

[5]  A. Lott,et al.  Group cohesiveness, communication level, and conformity. , 1961, Journal of abnormal and social psychology.

[6]  W. Hagstrom,et al.  TWO DIMENSIONS OF COHESIVENESS IN SMALL GROUPS. , 1965, Sociometry.

[7]  A. Lott,et al.  Group cohesiveness as interpersonal attraction: a review of relationships with antecedent and consequent variables. , 1965, Psychological bulletin.

[8]  S. Lirtzman,et al.  Role Conflict and Ambiguity in Complex Organizations. , 1970 .

[9]  J. L. Myers.  Fundamentals of Experimental Design , 1972 .

[10]  David G. Bowers,et al.  Survey of Organizations; A Machine-Scored Standardized Questionnaire Instrument , 1972 .

[11]  J. Hackman,et al.  Group tasks, group interaction process, and group performance effectiveness: A review and proposed integration , 1975 .

[12]  Roger Bakeman,et al.  Cohesiveness and performance: Covariation and causality in an undersea environment , 1975 .

[13]  T. Beehr.  Perceived situational moderators of the relationship between subjective role ambiguity and role strain. , 1976, The Journal of applied psychology.

[14]  Joel Ager,et al.  Analysis of Variance in Small Group Research , 1978 .

[15]  J. Schriesheim.  The Social Context of Leader-Subordinate Relations: An Investigation of the Effects of Group Cohesiveness , 1980 .

[16]  Randall S. Schuler,et al.  Role Conflict and Role Ambiguity: Integration of the Literature and Directions for Future Research , 1981 .

[17]  Aharon Tziner,et al.  Differential Effects of Group Cohesiveness Types: A Clarifying Overview. , 1982 .

[18]  A. Carrón,et al.  Cohesiveness in Sport Groups: Interpretations ani Considerations , 1982 .

[19]  A. Richardsen,et al.  Cohesion as a Basic Bond in Groups , 1983 .

[20]  Joseph P. Stokes,et al.  Components of Group Cohesion , 1983 .

[21]  Robert T. Keller,et al.  Predicting absenteeism from prior absenteeism, attitudinal factors, and nonattitudinal factors. , 1983 .

[22]  Robert Weinberg,et al.  A Multidimensional Group Cohesion Instrument for Intercollegiate Basketball Teams , 1984 .

[23]  G. Burlingame,et al.  Cohesion An Odyssey in Empirical Understanding , 1985 .

[24]  A. Carrón,et al.  The Development of an Instrument to Assess Cohesion in Sport Teams: The Group Environment Questionnaire , 1985 .

[25]  D. A. Kenny,et al.  Separating individual and group effects , 1985 .

[26]  F. Manning,et al.  Morale and its Components: A Cross‐National Comparison1 , 1987 .

[27]  S. Zaccaro,et al.  The Effects of Task and Interpersonal Cohesiveness on Performance of a Disjunctive Group Task1 , 1988 .

[28]  Stephen J. Zaccaro,et al.  Cohesiveness and Performance on an Additive Task: Evidence for Multidimensionality. , 1988 .

[29]  A. Carrón,et al.  Exploring the Relationship between Cohesion and Group Resistance to Disruption , 1988 .

[30]  Albert V. Carron,et al.  Group Cohesion and Individual Adherence to Physical Activity , 1988 .

[31]  Mark E. Johnson,et al.  Internal Structure of the Gross Cohesiveness Scale , 1988 .

[32]  P. E. Mudrack,et al.  Defining Group Cohesiveness , 1989 .