Small Group Research current issue

Realities of Working in Virtual Teams: Affective and Attitudinal Outcomes of Using Computer-Mediated Communication

Johnson, S. K., Bettenhausen, K., Gibbons, E. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:42:10 PST

Many organizations are using computer-mediated communication to facilitate group work among virtual teams. However, little is known about the effects of using computer-mediated communication on team member outcomes. Examining use of computer-mediated communication as a continuum, the authors found that team members who used computer-mediated communication more often experienced lower levels of positive affect while working with their teams and had lower levels of affective commitment to their teams. Positive affect mediated the relationship between use of computer-mediated communication and affective commitment. Moreover, this study identified a tipping point (using computer-mediated communication more than 90% of the time) at which the use of computer-mediated communication was particularly detrimental to team outcomes.

Deep-Level Similarity and Group Social Capital: Associations With Team Functioning

van Emmerik, I. H., Brenninkmeijer, V. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:42:10 PST

This study examines the associations of deep-level and surface-level similarity with team functioning (i.e., team effectiveness, team in-role performance, and team satisfaction). Hypotheses were tested using data from 420 teachers in 57 teams in secondary education. These teams were tightly integrated units in which teachers from different functional areas had to work together. From the results of multilevel analyses, it appeared that especially deep-level similarity was important for team functioning. Cross-level interactions showed a moderating effect of group social capital on the association of deep-level similarity with team functioning, but there was no such relationship found for surface-level similarity. Especially in teams with high group social capital, deep-level similarity was associated with improved team functioning.

Personal Values and Performance in Teams: An Individual and Team-Level Analysis

Glew, D. J. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:42:10 PST

Two studies involving 107 undergraduate and 54 MBA teams were conducted to examine the effects of personal values on the performance of individual team members and on the performance of the team as a whole. Values with clear relevance to teams and to work were selected for the studies. To capture the relative importance of these values, they were measured within the context of a broader set of personal values. At the individual level, the importance students ascribed a sense of accomplishment had a significant, but unexpected negative, relationship with individual peer-evaluated performance. Students’ prior performance outside their teams had a stronger positive relationship with in-team performance than did their personal values. At the team level, the average importance team members assigned the value of equality had a positive relationship with team performance.The average level of students’ prior performance was also related to team performance, but the average importance given to the value equality was a stronger predictor of this fundamental team outcome. Implications of these results and directions for future research are discussed.

Children's Social Identification With a Friendship Group: A Moderating Effect on Intent to Conform to Norms

Kwon, K., Lease, A. M. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:42:10 PST

This study examined third- through fifth-grade children’s social identification (i.e., positive affects and emotions) with their friendship group as a process by which friendship group norms might affect children’s behaviors. A confirmatory factor analysis supported a unidimensional model of social identification. Reciprocated friendship group nomination was positively associated with social identification; fifth graders reported a higher level of social identification than third graders. Sex and perceived popularity were not related to social identification. The authors hypothesized that the effect of friendship group norms on children’s intent to conform to those norms would be greater when they strongly identify with their group. This hypothesis was supported with regard to trend and misbehavior norms but not academic norms.

Athlete Satisfaction and Leadership: Assessing Group-Level Effects

Karreman, E., Dorsch, K., Riemer, H. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:42:11 PST

In a group context (e.g., athletic team), group-level effects may be present in constructs typically measured at the individual level (e.g., athlete satisfaction, leadership behavior). If a group-level effect is present, constructs should be analyzed using the group as the unit of analysis and failure to do so can lead to skewed relationships with other constructs. The purpose of this study is to examine the existence and magnitude of group-level effects when athletes rate athlete satisfaction and leadership behavior. The authors hypothesize: (a) group-level effects emerge when group members rate a shared property of the group, and (b) group-level effects may be present when group members rate an individual-level construct that exist within the context of the group. A total of 212 team athletes (members of 16 interactive athletic teams; mean age 20.1 ± 1.96 years) completed subscales of the Leadership Scale for Sports and the Athlete Satisfaction Questionnaire. Results show large group-level effects for all leadership behavior dimensions and satisfaction dimensions associated with group-level constructs, whereas smaller group-level effects were found for satisfaction dimensions associated with individual-level constructs. The results support the hypotheses that group-level effects can emerge for constructs previously viewed solely as individual-level constructs when measured in a group setting. Recognition of these effects should play a factor in determining the appropriate unit of analysis. Implications for handling groups without a group-level effect, while the majority of groups show an effect, are also discussed.

Call for Papers: INGRoup: Interdisciplinary Network for Group Research

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:42:11 PST