Longitudinal Analysis of Cohesion in Student Work Teams: The Efficacy of Teamwork Skills Training

This study was a longitudinal examination of the effects of teamwork skills training on team cohesion and team performance. Participants were 11 teams, made up of three-to-five undergraduate students who enrolled in a team-based Industrial/Organizational psychology course. For 16 weeks, each team completed three graded assignments per week and was tracked with regard to levels of task and social cohesion. During the seventh week, teams received theory-based training on basic teamwork processes. Results indicate that the training intervention had a significant positive impact on team cohesion. However, training did not affect team performance levels as expected. Discussion centered on the implications of the results for developing and maintaining cohesive teams.