Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between communication behaviors and task and social cohesion on athletic teams. The communication behaviors were those related to group dynamics (e.g., effort, trust, groupthink), and teammate feedback. Participants of the study included student athletes at The College of Wooster who were reached using the email distribution technique. Those who agreed to participate in the study completed an electronic survey. The findings revealed that the teams represented in this study are cohesive in terms of both task and social level. The findings also reveal that the group dynamic and feedback behaviors measured were related to both task and social cohesion. when reinforcement feedback was present, both social and task cohesion was also present. For the most part there are not differences on cohesion or the communicative behaviors based on class year or type of team. There is some evidence that the more time team members spend together the more social cohesion they experience.

Advisor

Johnson, Michelle

Department

Communication Studies

Keywords

cohesion, feedback, athletic teams, group dynamics

Publication Date

2018

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2018 Anna L. Blake