Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

8-2000

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Psychology

Major Professor

Eric Sundstrom

Committee Members

Michael G. Johnson

Abstract

An internet-based field study of 40 military service teams explored relationships among personality variables - agreeableness and conscientiousness, process variables - task and social group norms, and group effectiveness. At the individual level of analysis, it was hypothesized that agreeableness and conscientiousness were positively related to individual performance. At the group level of analysis for agreeableness and conscientiousness, it was hypothesized that the group average, minimum, maximum, and variance scores, as well as the percentage of team members scoring above the mean were related to group effectiveness - group performance, group cohesion, and group viability. Each operationalization has distinct implications for work teams. Groups high in agreeableness and conscientiousness were expected to be more effective than other types of groups. Group task and social norms were expected to correlate with conscientiousness and agreeableness, respectively. Groups with high scores for both task and social norms were expected to be more effective than other types of groups.

Surveys and performance ratings were administered and collected electronically over the internet. Supervisors provided performance ratings for individuals (N = 198) and work teams (N = 40), as well as ratings of group viability for teams.

Eight of nine hypotheses were at least partially supported. Individual performance is related to agreeableness and conscientiousness. Group average, minimum, maximum, and variance scores, and percentage of team members scoring above the mean correlate with group effectiveness. Groups high in agreeableness and conscientiousness are more cohesive than other types of groups. Group conscientiousness is related to group task norms, and group agreeableness is related to group social norms. Groups with high levels of task and social norms are more cohesive than other types of groups.

Post hoc analyses revealed that task interdependence moderates relationships between group conscientiousness and group task norms, as well as group agreeableness and group viability.

In addition to illustrating that personality is related to performance at the individual and group levels, this study extends the current literature on group composition by demonstrating linkages between group conscientiousness and group task norms, and group agreeableness and group social norms. Results carry implications for staffing specialists by demonstrating that high levels of conscientiousness and agreeableness are related to increased cohesion, which is related to group performance.

A summary of findings is presented, and an agenda for future research is suggested.

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