Effects of team building activities on group climate and cohesion.

摘要

This study investigated the effects of team building activities on group climate and cohesion. Eleven undergraduate university students comprised the sample. Pre- and post-questionnaires were administered to examine group climate and cohesion. The control group volunteered for two hours over a five week period and the experimental group participated in team building activities and volunteered for two hours over a five week period. The subscales of engagement, avoidance, and conflict were explored with regards to group climate. The results suggest that team building activities are effective in increasing group climate, cohesion, and development of newly formed groups. More specifically, the results showed a significant increase in group engagement, a significant decrease in group conflict, and a significant increase in group cohesion when team building activities were used. Group climate and cohesion also affect group development, which was further examined in this study through focus groups and individual interviews after completion of the program. The positive group climate and high level of cohesion of the experimental group allowed them to reach a higher level of group development than the control group.