Undergraduate Students' Perceptions of Frustrations in Collaborative Group Work: A Q Methodology Approach

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 11
  In Roundtable Session: Cooperative Learning Roundtable

Abstract

Though collaboration is acknowledged as an essential skill for 21st-century learners, research has found many students are frustrated with collaborative group work. Yet, it is unclear how students perceive different sources of frustrations in collaborative learning. This study employed Q methodology to investigate undergraduate students’ subjective perspectives on these frustrations. Fourteen college students in an online course consented to participate in the Q study. Participants sorted 27 statements about frustrations in collaboration from most frustrating to least frustrating. The Q sort data were factor analyzed and three factors emerged: Factor 1 goal-oriented collaborators (6 sorts), Factor 2a fairness-oriented collaborators (3 sorts), Factor 2b process-oriented collaborators (2 sorts), and Factor 3 independent learners (3 sorts).

Authors

• Xigui Yang, University of Georgia - Athens

• Lloyd P. Rieber, University of Georgia