Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between role ambiguity and both task cohesion (group integration-task and attractions to the group-task) and task efficacy (for offence and defense) in basketball. Ambiguity was operationalized as a multidimensional construct comprising a lack of clear understanding about (a) scope of role responsibilities, (b) behaviors to carry out role responsibilities, (c) how role performance will be evaluated, and (d) the consequences of a failure to discharge role responsibilities. The results showed a high degree of relationship among the four manifestations of role ambiguity. Also, ambiguity concerning scope of responsibilities was inversely related to both measures of task cohesion as well as task efficacy for defense. Task efficacy for offence was predicted for female athletes by ambiguity associated with evaluation of performance and for male athletes by ambiguity associated with evaluation of performance and consequences of not fulfilling responsibilities. Implications of findings and future research are discussed.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: Freeman.

Bass, B. M. (1980). Team productivity and individual member competence. Small Group Behavior, 11, 431-504.

Beard, F. K. (1999). Client role ambiguity and satisfaction in client-ad agency relationships. Journal of Advertising Research, 39(2), 69-78.

Bray, S. R. (1998). Role efficacy within interdependent teams: Measurement development and tests of theory. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Capel, S. A. (1986). Psychological and organizational factors related to burnout in athletic trainers. Research Quarterly, 57(4), 321-328.

Carron, A. V. , Brawley, L. R. , & Widmeyer, W. N. (1998). The measurement of cohesiveness in sport groups. In J. L. Duda (Ed.), Advances in sport and exercise psychology measurement (pp. 213-226). Morgantown, WV: Fitness Information Technology.

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, 244-266.

Cherry, D. , & Fischler, S. (1982). Grapes: A vintage view of hockey. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Duda, J. L. (1987). Toward a developmental theory of children’s motivation in sport. Journal of Sport Psychology, 9, 130-145.

10.

Eagly, A. H. , & Johnson, B. T. (1990). Gender and leadership style: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 108, 223-256.

11.

Fried, Y. , & Tiegs, R. B. (1995). Supervisors’ role conflict and role ambiguity differential relations with performance ratings of subordinates and the moderating effect of screening ability. Journal of Applied Psychology, 80(2), 282-291.

12.

Goliembieski, R. (1962). The small group. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

13.

Grand, R. R. , & Carron, A. V. (1982). Development of a team climate questionnaire. In Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology, Edmonton, Alberta (pp. 217-229).

14.

Hamner, W. C. , & Tosi, H. L. (1974). Relationship of role conflict and role ambiguity to job involvement measures. Journal of Applied Psychology, 59(4), 497-499.

15.

Jackson, S. E. , & Schuler, R. S. (1985). A meta-analysis and conceptual critique of research on role ambiguity and role conflict in work settings. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 36, 16-78.

16.

Kahn, R. L. , Wolfe, D. M. , Quinn, R. P. , Snoek, J. D. , & Rosenthal, R. A. (1964). Organizational stress: Studies in role conflict and ambiguity. New York: John Wiley.

17.

Lewin, K. (1935). A dynamic theory of personality. New York: McGraw-Hill.

18.

Lott, A. J. , & Lott, B. E. (1965). Group cohesiveness as interpersonal attraction: A review of relationships with antecedent and consequent variables. Psychological Bulletin, 64, 259-309.

19.

Mullen, B. , & Copper, C. (1994). The relation between group cohesiveness and performance: An integration. Psychological Bulletin, 115, 210-227.

20.

Rizzo, J. R. , House, R. J. , & Lirtzman, S. I. (1970). Role conflict and ambiguity in complex organizations. Administrative Science Quarterly, 15, 150-163.

21.

Tabachnick, B. G. , & Fidell, L. S. (1996). Using multivariate statistics (3rd ed.). New York: HarperCollins.

22.

Wood, W. (1987). Meta-analytic review of sex differences in group performance. Psychological Bulletin, 102, 53-71.

Role Ambiguity,Task Cohesion,and Task Self-Efficacy

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References