Group Interaction Behaviors that Affect Group Performance on an I ntellective Task

Interaction that occurs while a group completes a cooperative task describes how the group works. Group members working cooperatively on complex intellective tasks completed open-ended questionnaires that described interaction behaviors that facilitated and behaviors that interfered with their group's performance over the life of the group (four months). After considerable screening, these descriptions were adapted into behavioral items that made up a group style instrument. This instrument was administered at two points in time to an independent sample of subjects participating in similar groups. Descriptions of the facilitating and interfering interaction behaviors are provided. Group interaction is examined in terms of changes in responses to the items over time. The instrument was sensitive to levels of group performance, and descriptions of interaction behaviors that discriminated between performance levels are discussed. Applications for group feedback are described and implications for future research are given.