scholarly journals Cliques in Sport: Perceptions of Intercollegiate Athletes

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luc J. Martin ◽  
Jessi Wilson ◽  
M. Blair Evans ◽  
Kevin S. Spink
Keyword(s):  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Potential Influence ◽  
Intercollegiate Athletes ◽  
Group Outcomes ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Competitive Athletes ◽  
Sport Teams ◽  
Team Functioning ◽  
Isolation Performance

Although cliques are often referenced in sporting circles, they have received little attention in the group dynamics literature. This is surprising given their potential influence on group-related processes that could ultimately influence team functioning (e.g., Carron & Eys, 2012). The present study examined competitive athletes’ perceptions of cliques using semistructured interviews with 18 (nine female, nine male) intercollegiate athletes (Mage = 20.9, SD = 1.6) from nine sport teams. Athletes described the formation of cliques as an inevitable and variable process that was influenced by a number of antecedents (e.g., age/tenure, proximity, similarity) and ultimately shaped individual and group outcomes such as isolation, performance, and sport adherence. Further, athletes described positive consequences that emerged when existing cliques exhibited more inclusive behaviors and advanced some areas of focus for the management of cliques within sport teams. Results are discussed from both theoretical and practical perspectives.

Next One Up! Exploring How Coaches Manage Team Dynamics Following Injury

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 198-208
Author(s):  
Rachel A. Van Woezik ◽  
Alex J. Benson ◽  
Mark W. Bruner
Keyword(s):  
Group Dynamics ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Group Environment ◽  
Sport Teams ◽  
Injury Event ◽  
The Moment

Injuries are commonplace in high-intensity sport, and research has explored how athletes are psychologically affected by such events. As injuries carry implications for the group environment in sport teams, the authors explored what occurs within a team during a time period of injury from a coach perspective and how high-performance coaches manage a group at this time. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 Canadian university basketball head coaches. Thematic analysis revealed four high-order themes in relation to how coaches managed group dynamics from the moment of the injury event to an athlete’s reintegration into the lineup. Strategies to mitigate the negative effects of injury on the group environment while prioritizing athlete well-being involved remaining stoic at the time of an injury event, maintaining the injured athlete’s sense of connection to the team, and coordinating with support staff throughout the recovery and reintegration process.

Team Building and Group Cohesion in the Context of Sport and Performance Psychology

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Eys ◽  
Jeemin Kim
Keyword(s):  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Team Performance ◽  
Team Building ◽  
Group Cohesion ◽  
Performance Psychology ◽  
Group Outcomes ◽  
Sport Teams ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Strong Body ◽  
Targeted Approach

Over the past 30 years, researchers studying group dynamics in sport have provided insight regarding the importance of considering a team’s environment, structure, and processes for its effective functioning. An emergent property resulting from activities within the group is cohesion. Cohesion is a dynamic property reflecting members’ perceptions of the unity and personal attractions to task and social objectives of the group. Generally speaking, cohesion remains a highly valued group property, and a strong body of evidence exists to support positive links to important individual and group outcomes such as adherence and team performance. Given the importance attached to cohesion and other group variables for sport teams, coaches and athletes often attempt to engage in activities that facilitate group functioning. Team building is a specific approach designed to facilitate team effectiveness and individual members’ perceptions of their group. Cohesion has been the primary target of team-building interventions in sport, although recent work on team-building outcomes suggested that the effects of these interventions on cohesion may be limited. The most effective team-building approaches include a goal setting protocol, last at least two weeks in duration, and target a variety of outcomes in addition to cohesion, including individual cognitions and team performance. There is a clear need to identify a team’s requirements prior to intervening (i.e., a targeted approach), consider a variety of approaches to team building, and investigate the effects of team building via more stringent research methods.

Communication Within Sport Teams: Jungian Preferences and Group Dynamics

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark R. Beauchamp ◽  
Alan Maclachlan ◽  
Andrew M. Lothian
Keyword(s):  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Review Paper ◽  
Effective Communication ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Contemporary Group ◽  
Theoretical Structure ◽  
Sport Teams ◽  
Successful Team ◽  
Team Functioning

Contemporary group dynamics theorists and practitioners consistently highlight the importance of effective communication in facilitating successful team functioning (cf. Carron & Hausenblas, 1998). In this review paper, we explore how an understanding of Jungian preferences (cf. Jung, 1921/1971a) can provide an important theory-driven framework for those concerned with group dynamics in sport. As a basis for improved interaction, this model suggests that in order to effectively “adapt and connect” with other team members, one must first develop an acute understanding of self as well as the patterns of preferences that characterize those with whom one interacts. In this paper, we discuss the theoretical structure of this model and explain how the model can inform group dynamics interventions in sport.

scholarly journals Antecedents and Outcomes of a Culturally Diverse Workforce in Hotels

2021 ◽  
pp. 109634802098690
Author(s):  
Ashokkumar Manoharan ◽  
Michael J. Gross ◽  
Shruti R. Sardeshmukh
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Diversity ◽  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Culturally Diverse ◽  
Research Evidence ◽  
Diversity Management ◽  
Diverse Workforce ◽  
The Social ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Hospitality Firms

The topic of cultural diversity in hospitality firms has been somewhat neglected in the abundant research on cultural diversity in organizations. To overcome the gap, the purpose of the research was to examine the antecedents and outcomes of employing a culturally diverse workforce in hotels. Results from semistructured interviews showed there are four antecedents for the increase in cultural diversity and outcomes reflect significantly more benefits than challenges. Our findings suggest the benefits of cultural diversity come from the informational advantages, supporting the processing perspective. The challenges of diversity are rooted in the social categorization and in-group-out-group dynamics, lending support to the social identity theory. This study advances diversity literature based on research evidence of the various antecedents and outcomes in employing a culturally diverse workforce. Implications for diversity management are offered so the benefits may be sustained, and the challenges may be minimized in hospitality firms.

Coaches’ Perspectives of Intrateam Competition in High Performance Sport Teams

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Harenberg ◽  
Harold A. Riemer ◽  
Erwin Karreman ◽  
Kim D. Dorsch
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Team Sport ◽  
Head Coaches ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Constructive Process ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Sport Teams ◽  
University Level ◽  
Playing Time ◽  
Sport Coaches

Competition is a common phenomenon and occurs frequently in sports. In high performance sports, competition takes place not only between teams (interteam competition) but also within a team (intrateam competition). In the intrateam competition, coaches might play a central role because of their power to structure competition within their teams. Yet, there is a lack of research exploring how coaches facilitate this type of competition. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to explore how university-level team sport coaches’ experience, structure and use intrateam competition. Eight full-time Canadian Interuniversity Sports head coaches participated in semistructured interviews. The participants indicated that intrateam competition involves two distinct types of competition: situational and positional competition. While situational competition occurs primarily in practices, positional competition is an ongoing, continual process in which athletes who occupy the same position compete for playing time. The coaches shared important considerations about how to carefully structure and use both types of competition constructively. The study is an original account of intrateam competition as a multifaceted, constructive process within high performance sport teams.

Comparing Student- and Teacher-Formed Teams on Group Dynamics, Satisfaction, and Performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 443-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shayna A. Rusticus ◽  
Brandon J. Justus
Keyword(s):  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Group Work ◽  
Group Formation ◽  
Methods Course ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Formation Method ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Team Functioning

We compared student- and teacher-formed teams on aspects of group dynamics, satisfaction, and performance. Two sections of an introductory psychology research methods course were randomly assigned to either student-formed or teacher-formed teams. We conducted t tests on 10 measures related to group dynamics, satisfaction, and success. Academic performance and group work contribution were the only measures found to be statistically different, with the student-formed teams scoring higher than the teacher-formed teams. Follow-up individual interviews or focus groups conducted with 13 students suggested a slight preference for the teacher-formed method because it was transparent and eliminated the stress of having to choose one’s team members. We further recommend this method because of its simplicity and closer approximation to real-world scenarios. Several factors identified as being important for effective team functioning, regardless of group formation method, are also discussed.

The Deselection Process in Competitive Female Youth Sport

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kacey C. Neely ◽  
John G.H. Dunn ◽  
Tara-Leigh F. McHugh ◽  
Nicholas L. Holt
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Youth Sport ◽  
Female Adolescent ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Head Coaches ◽  
Interpretive Description ◽  
Female Youth ◽  
Provincial Level ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Sport Teams

The overall purpose of this study was to examine coaches’ views on deselecting athletes from competitive female adolescent sport teams. Individual semistructured interviews were conducted with 22 head coaches of Canadian provincial level soccer, basketball, volleyball, and ice hockey teams. Interpretive description methodology (Thorne, 2008) was used. Results revealed deselection was a process that involved four phases: pre-tryout meeting, evaluation and decision-making, communication of deselection, and post deselection reflections. Within the evaluation and decision-making phase coaches made programmed and nonprogrammed decisions under conditions of certainty and uncertainty. When faced with uncertainty coaches relied on intuition.

A Leadership Development Intervention Program: A Case Study With Two Elite Teams

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 604-623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Voight
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Program Effectiveness ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Development Intervention ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Sport Teams ◽  
Collegiate Level ◽  
Team Captains ◽  
Leadership Instruction

Most of the leadership training that team captains receive at the collegiate level consists of either receiving a list of books or articles about leadership or a list of responsibilities that they must do with little or no guidance or instruction. Still others will focus on this reading and/or responsibilities with active discussion in the off-season, yet when it matters the most, during the competitive season, time spent on leadership instruction and follow-ups becomes an afterthought at best. Due to the supposed benefits of improved leadership for sport teams, a leadership development intervention program was developed and applied to two NCAA Division I teams who were successful enough to make it to the NCAA National Championships in their sport. Program effectiveness was determined by the teams meeting not only their seasonal goals but exceeding the primary objectives of the leadership development program set by the leadership consultant and coaching staffs, in addition to the favorable feedback provided by the team to the captains during/after the season, and semistructured interviews of the captains postseason.

Supporting the JAD Facilitator with the Nominal Group Technique

2008 ◽  
pp. 1304-1321
Author(s):  
Evan W. Duggan ◽  
Cherian S. Thachenkary
Keyword(s):  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Nominal Group Technique ◽  
Nominal Group ◽  
Application Development ◽  
Joint Application ◽  
Group Outcomes ◽  
Requirements Determination ◽  
Systems Requirements ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Group Technique

Joint application development (JAD) was introduced in the late 1970s to solve many of the problems system users experienced with the conventional methods used in systems requirements determination (SRD) and has produced noteworthy improvements over these methods. However, a JAD session is conducted with freely interacting groups, which makes it susceptible to the problems that have curtailed the effectiveness of groups. JAD outcomes are also critically dependent on excellent facilitation for minimizing dysfunctional group behaviors. Many JAD efforts are not contemplated (and some fail) because such a person is often unavailable. The nominal group technique (NGT) was designed to reduce the impact of negative group dynamics. An integration of JAD and NGT is proposed here as a crutch to reduce the burden of the JAD facilitator in controlling group sessions during SRD. This approach, which was tested empirically in a laboratory experiment, appeared to outperform JAD alone in the areas tested and seemed to contribute to excellent group outcomes even without excellent facilitation.

Supporting the JAD Facilitator with the Nominal Group Technique

2005 ◽  
pp. 151-173
Author(s):  
Evan W. Duggan ◽  
Cherian S. Thachenkary
Keyword(s):  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Nominal Group Technique ◽  
Nominal Group ◽  
Application Development ◽  
Joint Application ◽  
Group Outcomes ◽  
Requirements Determination ◽  
Systems Requirements ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Group Technique

Joint Application Development (JAD) was introduced in the late 1970s to solve many of the problems system users experienced with the conventional methods used in systems requirements determination (SRD) and has produced noteworthy improvements over these methods. However, a JAD session is conducted with freely interacting groups, which makes it susceptible to the problems that have curtailed the effectiveness of groups. JAD outcomes are also critically dependent on excellent facilitation for minimizing dysfunctional group behaviors. Many JAD efforts are not contemplated (and some fail) because such a person is often unavailable. The nominal group technique (NGT) was designed to reduce the impact of negative group dynamics. An integration of JAD and NGT is proposed here as a crutch to reduce the burden of the JAD facilitator in controlling group sessions during SRD. This approach, which was tested empirically in a laboratory experiment, appeared to outperform JAD alone in the areas tested and seemed to contribute to excellent group outcomes even without excellent facilitation.

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