Strategy, team cohesion and team member satisfaction: The effects of gender and group composition. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martin, Eleanor; Good, Judith
• Is Part Of: Computers in human behavior. Volume 53(2015)
• Page Start: 536
• Page End: 543
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Team cohesion -- Sex differences -- Team member satisfaction -- Gameplay; Interactive computer systems -- Periodicals; Man-machine systems -- Periodicals; 004.019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2014.06.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0747-5632

Abstract

Highlights: Seven teams with different gender compositions played an online game. We examined team cohesion, team member satisfaction and team strategy. Team cohesion was higher for all-female teams than all-male. Team member satisfaction was higher for all-female teams. All-male teams pursued more varied and riskier strategies. Abstract: Gender differences in team cohesion, team member satisfaction and play style were examined in small, single-gender groups playing an online game simulating small scale farming in Africa. Six women and nine men formed seven self-selected teams, with three teams being all-female and four all-male teams. The teams played the game for three hours, after which they completed a survey on team cohesion and team member satisfaction before taking part in a debriefing session, which covered strategies used by the respective teams. The all-female teams exhibited a significantly higher rate of team cohesion and team member satisfaction, while the all-male teams were shown to pursue riskier and wider-ranging strategies.