The Effects of Training in Teamwork Skills on Intact Student Teams

This study explored the effect of a theory-based training program in teamwork skills on the performance, satisfaction and teamwork skills of students working in teams on class projects. Twenty-seven teams of students were recruited from six different classes across departments at a local university. Teams were assigned to either a placebo session or an experimental training session, which trained them in teamwork skills, based on the Dickinson and McIntyre (1997) model of teamwork. Teams were then compared on project grades, ratings of satisfaction on the Group Attitude Scale (Evans & Jarvis, 1986) and ratings of teamwork on the Teamwork Component Rating Scale (Rosenstein, 1994). Contrary to the hypotheses, no significant differences were found between teams trained in teamwork skills and those teams not receiving training. Suggestions for future team research are presented.