DECREMENTAL EFFECTS OF REINFORCEMENT IN TEAMS WITH REDUNDANT MEMBERS
Abstract
This study was undertaken to support the theory that the addition of an extra member to a team will enhance that team's performance. In the teams studied, however, this effect was maintained only temporarily, and with continued practice, five of the six teams showed a decided performance decrement, falling to a level which was at least 33% below that of either of the original two-man components. This decrement was explained by the reinforcement contingencies present in the situation which permitted a redundant member to be reinforced for inappropriate performance even though the performance of the team was correct. The results of this study indicate that, in spite of a possible increment in initial team output, redundant teams under the conditions investigated were showing an eventual performance decrement. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 02, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0262742
Entities
People
- David J. Klaus
- Karl Egerman
- Robert Glaser
Organizations
- American Institutes for Research