Notes

Group Studies

• Studies also show that productivity decreases as group size increases. This is believed to be due to 2 factors: loss of efficiency resulting from a loss of coordination of effort and social loafing. Social loafing is a reduction in effort by individuals when they work in groups as compared to when they work alone.
• Decision making processes can be influenced by groups as well. Group polarization occurs when group discussion strengthens a group’s dominant point of view and produces a shift toward a more extreme decision in that direction.
• Groupthink occurs when members of a cohesive group emphasize concurrence at the expense of critical thinking in arriving at a decision. Research indicates that cohesiveness (strength of the liking relationships linking group members) is a significant contributor to groupthink.

Links

• Psychology 305: Social Psychology - 3rd year Social Psychology course outline and online materials

References

Myers, D. G. (2001). Social Psychology (Ch. 18). In D. G. Myers (2001). Psychology (6th ed.) (pp. 643-688). New York: Worth.

Westen, D., Burton, L., & Kowalski, R. (2006). Psychology. Australian and New Zealand Edition. Queensland: Wiley.