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Team Cohesion

Definition

“The bonding together of members of a unit in such a way as to sustain their will and commitment to each other, their unit, and the mission.” (Johns, Bickel, Blades, Creel, Gatling, Hinkle, Kindrad, & Stocks, 1984, p. 4)

Key References 

  • Mullen, B., & Copper, C. (1994). The relation between group cohesiveness and performance: An integration. Psychological Bulletin, 115(2), 210–227. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.115.2.210 
    • Meta analysis, determined a small but significant relationship between cohesion and performance, but this effect was largely related to indivdiual's commitment to the task.
  • Dion, K. L. (2000). Group cohesion: From “field of forces” to multidimensional construct. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 4(1), 7–26. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2699.4.1.7 
    • Review of cohesion construct history based on measurement, discussed vertical (subdorinate perception of leaders) versus horizontal (subdorinates perception of peers)
  • Tekleab, A. G., Quigley, N. R., & Tesluk, P. E. (2009). A Longitudinal Study of Team Conflict, Conflict Management, Cohesion, and Team Effectiveness. Group & Organization Management, 34(2), 170–205. https://doi.org/10.1177/1059601108331218 
    • Determined the effect of conflict management practice scores (high or low) on the relationship between cohesion and team conflict (task & relationship)

Key Measurements

  • Carron et al., 1987 Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ): primarily adapted for team use, 18 item survey.
    • Carron, A. V., Widmeyer, W. N., & Brawley, L. R. (1985). The development of an instrument to assess cohesion in sport teams: the Group Environment Questionnaire. Journal of Sport Psychology, 7(3), 244–266. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsp.7.3.244
  • Bollen & Hoyle 1990 Perceived Cohesion Scale (PCS) 1996, 6 item survey.
    • Bollen, K. A., & Hoyle, R. H. (1990). Perceived cohesion: a conceptual and empirical examination. Oxford University Press, 69(2), 479–504. https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/69.2.479
  •  Cohesion: 5 point Likert scale, 10 item sub scale (alpha = .97) 

Recent Articles 

  • Fruhen, L. S., & Keith, N. (2014). Team cohesion and error culture in risky work environments. Safety Science, 65, 20–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2013.12.011
    • Found that task cohesion influences accident occurence and exerts its influence through error management culture.
  • Greer, L. L. (2012). Group cohesion. Small Group Research, 43(6), 655–661. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496412461532
    • Modern day review of group cohesion research.
  • Guo, H. (2018). The formation of highly-cooperative organizational climate considering impacts of organizational commitment and Team Cohesion. Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on Asian B&R Conference on International Business Cooperation (ISBCD 2018). https://doi.org/10.2991/isbcd-18.2018.86
    • Found that team cohesion has a positive impact on the formation of a highly-cooperative climate.