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Should we create a niche or fall in line? Identity negotiation and small group effectiveness
W B Swann1, L P Milton, J T Polzer
1Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin 78712, USA. swann@psy.utexas.edu
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|August 19, 2000
Summary
Group members’ self-verification, where they influence others’ perceptions of them, enhances group connection and creative task performance. Appraisal effects, where groups influence members’ self-perceptions, improve performance on computational tasks.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Organizational Behavior
- Group Dynamics
Background:
- Understanding how individual identity negotiation impacts group functioning is crucial in organizational settings.
- Previous research has explored self-categorization theory and its influence on group outcomes, but the specific roles of self-verification and appraisal effects require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distinct effects of self-verification and appraisal processes on group functioning and performance among MBA students.
- To determine the relative prevalence of self-verification versus appraisal effects in a group project context.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 423 MBA students.
- Analysis of how self-verification (members influencing group's view of them) and appraisal effects (group influencing members' self-view) relate to group connection and project performance.
- Distinction between performance on creative tasks versus computational tasks.
Main Results:
- Self-verification heightened group identification, social integration, and reduced emotional conflict, while improving grades on creative tasks.
- Appraisal effects enhanced grades on computational tasks requiring a single correct answer.
- Self-verification effects were observed more frequently than appraisal effects.
Conclusions:
- Both self-verification and appraisal effects play distinct roles in group functioning and task performance.
- Self-verification is more dominant and beneficial for tasks requiring creativity and diverse perspectives.
- Findings contribute to understanding the interplay of self-perception, group dynamics, and academic/project outcomes.
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