group cohesion

Question 1

what is group cohesion?

Answer 1

The extent to which a group stays together and united to pursuit of common goals and objectives
- Teams lacking cohesion fail to perform to their potential and become divisive
- Task and social cohesion can be independent of each other

Question 2

what are the two components of group cohesion?

Answer 2

• task cohesion
• social cohesion

Question 3

what is task cohesion?

Answer 3

• How committed are the team members to achieving their predetermined common performance goal
• Very important for teams in interactive sports where cooperation is essential

Question 4

what is social cohesion?

Answer 4

• The degree to which team members like each other and enjoy being together
• Reflects friendship within the group

Question 5

what are the 3 methods of measuring group cohesion?

Answer 5

• questionnaires
• sociograms
• observation

Question 6

what are questionnaires/self-reports?

Answer 6

• Given to team members
• Used to determine the level of cohesion within the team and problem areas can be addressed

Question 7

what are sociograms?

Answer 7

• Diagram which shows the inter-relationship between individuals in a team

Question 8

what can sociograms determine?

Answer 8

• Potential leaders within the group
• Players who should not be considered for leadership roles
• Friendship groups that extend beyond the game e.g. off-field socialization
• Player cliques that can be divisive
• Attraction / rejection between players
• Isolated players who may need extra support
• Potential conflicts within the player group

Question 9

what is observation?

Answer 9

• Coach can use a checklist to observe how players in the group relate to each other, who they mix with, who they avoid and who they interact with
• Not valid method as it is dependent on players displaying their normal behaviour rather than what they consider the coach wants to see

Question 10

what are the 4 factors of Caron’s model which affect group cohesion?

Answer 10

• Environmental factors
• Personal factors
• Leadership factors
• Team factors

Question 11

what are environmental factors affecting group cohesion?

Answer 11

= Normative forces that bring a team together
- Contracts
- salary caps
- Geographical location
- Age
- Eligibility
- Group size
- Organisation orientation

Question 12

what are personal factors affecting group cohesion?

Answer 12

= Individual characters/ demographic attributes of team members such as motives for participation
- Task motive = desire to contribute to achievement of team goals
- Affiliation motivation = associated with social cohesion and a desire to be a part of a group and develop relationships
- Self-motivation = attempt to obtain personal satisfaction through improving personal performance

Question 13

what are leadership factors affecting group cohesion?

Answer 13

= Refers to the leadership style used by the coach and captain and the relationships developed
- Ensure the most appropriate style of leadership to meet the needs and expectations of the group is used

Question 14

what are team factors affecting group cohesion?

Answer 14

= The collective identity, goals, and standards of the team
- Team stability = maintaining the same playing group over time increases cohesion

Question 15

what are the benefits of group cohesion?

Answer 15

• More likely to be successful
• Satisfied members
• Communication is more effective
• Higher motivation
• Increased feeling of the group as a whole
• Players work together to achieve team goals ahead of personal goals
• Players support and encourage one another and enjoy each other’s success

Question 16

what are the barriers to group cohesion?

Answer 16

• Personality clashes between members
• Conflicting roles among group members
• Frequent changes to the group
• Disagreement on group objectives, prioritizing individual goals over team goals
• Lack of communication, presence of social cliques
• Power struggle between players, unresolved conflicts
• Leadership style not compatible with group needs or desires

Question 17

how do you develop task cohesion?

Answer 17

• Set challenging but realistic short- and long-term goals
• Establish individual roles
• Align individual goals with team goals
• Build team stability
• Communicate clearly and regularly

Question 18

how do you develop social cohesion?

Answer 18

• Provide opportunities for socialization
• Build team identity
• Foster a climate of trust and respect within the group
• Avoid development of social cliques
• Team building activities