Group Size and the Trust, Cohesion, and Commitment of Group Members

• In Event: 029 - Regular Session. Group Processes

Abstract

How does group size affect the trust and cohesion of group members, and so their commitments to groups? Larger groups may provide members with a greater likelihood of success while also reducing the chances for group members to contribute. Theory is developed from social psychological perspectives on cohesion and commitment and communications research on social awareness to explain how group size affects the awareness group members develop of one another and so the positive sentiments generated by group interactions. This theory uses the concept of anticipated mutual perception, how much group members think about what other group members think of them, to predict lower group member trust, cohesion, and commitment as groups grow in size. A two-phase experiment varied the size of a task group working on an investment problem. Results suggest that the subjective ideal size of a small task group, from the perspective of individual group members, peaks between 4-6 members, beyond which group members feel others are less aware of them and they report less trust of other group members. Implications for groups working face-to-face and at a distance are discussed.

Authors

• Shane D. Soboroff, Eastern Illinois University

• Christopher Patrick Kelley, University of Iowa