Preliminary Evaluation of a Brief Team Cohesion Manikin Scale

Abstract

The performance of small groups of individuals is substantially influenced by team cohesion. Past research has examined the processes involved in the development of cohesion, the extent to which a group of individuals are drawn together as a team, between team members across large temporal scales. Questions remain, however, regarding the progression of team cohesion within a specific set of activities. To address these questions, brief measures that are able to reliably assess team cohesion are required. In the present study, a novel set of team cohesion scales, designed to be completed rapidly and at multiple times during a task, was examined. Three team cohesion manikin scales were developed to assess interpersonal attraction, commitment, and pride. Ratings from the scales were gathered as small groups of participants completed two sets of tasks, the first in which participants observed video clips of teams that varied in displayed cohesion, and the second where groups completed two activities. High reliability was observed across the scales when participants used them to rate groups observed in video clips. During group activities, significant relations were observed between scale scores and past measures of team cohesion. The present study provides preliminary evidence that brief self-report measures can be used to assess team cohesion when observing as well as participating in group activities.