When Group Projects Conflict With Students' Personal Goals: Motivational and Emotional Correlates of Group Commitment

• In Event: Roundtable Session 23
  In Roundtable Session: Research on Cooperative Learning

Abstract

Undergraduates’ goals (cognitive/motivational and climate goals) for a class group project were examined as predictors of three outcome variables (group project commitment, positive emotions, and negative emotions). Additionally, the contribution of conflict between personal goals and the demands from the group project was also studied. Data came from an online survey of 660 undergraduates, and were analyzed using hierarchical regressions. Findings were that individual and group goals contributed significantly to explaining the variance in group commitment and positive and negative emotions. When scores on a measure of conflict between group project and personal demands were added, the contribution to explaining project commitment (in a negative direction) and negative emotions (in a positive direction) increased significantly.

Authors

• John H. Park, The University of Texas - Austin

• Hyung-Sok (Nathan) Choe, The University of Texas - Austin

• Diane L. Schallert, The University of Texas - Austin

• Bridget A. McGinn, The University of Texas - Austin