Redefining Group Cohesiveness and Effectiveness: Replicating and Extending within New Perspectives.

A study examining small group performance replicated and extended a previous study by L. Kelly and R. L. Duran to reanalyze their operationallzation of cohesiveness. To test the hypotheses of the original study and to explore questions about using the polarization index as an indication of group cohesiveness, the study used a large number of groups, an additional formula for calculating polarization intensi'y, two additional measures of group cohesiveness, and an additional evaluation of group output as a measure of group effectiveness. Subjects were students (N=248) enrolled in a multi-section course in small group communications at a large midwestern university. Subjects self-selected themselves into groups of no less than three and no more than seven and participated in five hours of introductory interaction. After this, they were asked to develop and present two exercises on group communication topics. Results revealed that neither polarization nor unification is an adequate measure of group cohesion and that a factor other than cohesiveness account -s for group effectiveness. Findings suggest that group effectiveness 2.s more dependent upon feelings of satisfaction than on feelings of cohesiveness. Continued investigations into individual members of the work group and their definitions of group and personal effectiveness appear to be called for. (Eight tables of data are included; 22 references are attached.) (KEH) **************************************************************:t****** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. REDEFINING GROUP COHESIVENESS AND EFFECTIVENESS: REPLICATING AND EXTENDING WITHIN NEW PERSPECTIVES Joann Keyton Assistant Professor