Assessing the Impact of Ability-Based Pairing Strategies in Team Training of a Complex Skill.

摘要

In this study, we created homogeneous and heterogeneous dyadic training teams on the basis of g to examine how team composition affects the acquisition and performance of a complex skill at both team and individual levels. Specifically, 176 young adult males completed 10 hours of training on a complex skill involving strong cognitive and psychomotor demands. Participants practiced in pairs and completed tests of both team and individual performance. We found a strong additive influence of ability on team performance. Uniformly high-ability teams outperformed mixed-ability teams, who in turn outperformed uniformly low-ability teams. At the individual level, high-ability trainees acquired significantly more skill when paired with other high-ability partners instead of low-ability partners; however, low-ability trainees benefited only slightly from being paired with high-ability partners.