GROUP SUCCESS AND THE REDUCTION OF STATUS INCONGRUENCE IN TASK-ORIENTED GROUPS,
Abstract
Considered in this paper are tendencies toward hierarchical restructuring which arise from status incongruence in task-oriented groups with different histories of success. Each group consists of four members who differ in (a) their apparent task ability, i.e., performance status, and (b) their influence over the overall group product, i.e., control status. In particular, over a large number of task trials changes in control status are observed under various conditions of status incongruence, in groups with histories of relatively high and low success. Each group begins with a perfect congruence between performance status and control status. Experimental manipulations are subsequently performed which induce discrepancies between these two sources of status. In half of the groups performance status of the member with the highest control status is reduced, and in the other half performance status of the member with the lowest control status is increased. Both of these experimental inductions necessarily result in a systematic deterioration of the total group output. Observations are made over a large number of trials to determine how rapidly groups of individuals respond and adapt to status incongruence of the above two forms, and how these responses are influenced by the past task successes and failures of the group. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 15, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0614449
Entities
People
- Eugene Brunstein
- Tobert B. Zajonc
Organizations
- University of Michigan