Effects of cooperative, competitive, and individualistic goal structures on achievement: A meta-analysis.
Abstract
This article examines 122 existing studies concerning the effectiveness cooperation with and without intra-group competition, inter-personal competition, and individualistic goal structures, by using a meta-analysis. Three types of met-analysis are performed: vote method, effect-size method, and z-score method. Results indicate that cooperation is superior to competition and individualistic efforts for increasing achievement and productivity, cooperation without inter-group competition is better than cooperation with inter-group competition, and no significant differences occur between interpersonal competition and individualistic efforts on achievement and productivity. The authors conclude that these findings should have significant impacts for education and industry.
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There is significant evidence that a cooperative goal structure can have the most powerful impact in promoting achievement and productivity.
“There is significant evidence to indicate that a cooperative goal structure can have the most powerful impact in promoting achievement and productivity (Johnson, Johnson & Smith, 2007;Johnson, Maruyama, Johnson, Nelson, & Skon, 1981).”
From FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS ENGAGED IN A COOPERATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT: EVALUATING THEIR ABILITY TO DETERMINE THE STATUS OF THEIR OWN CONCEPTIONS ABOUT MATTER (2013) · cites this paper as Johnson, Maruyama, Johnson, Nelson, & Skon, 1981
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- Authors
- Johnson, D. W., Maruyama, G., Johnson, R., Nelson, D., & Skon, L.
- Affiliations
- University of Minnesota (US)
- Venue
- Psychological Bulletin
- Published
- 1981-01
- Volume
- 89
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 47-62
- ISSN
- 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1455
- OpenAlex
- W2045780317
- Cited by
- 1,588
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 42 · 2017: 56 · 2016: 48 · 2015: 43 · 2014: 58 · 2013: 39 · 2012: 47
- FWCI
- 42.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Team Dynamics and Performance
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Education, Achievement, and Giftedness
- Keywords
- cooperative learning, competition, achievement, productivity, interpersonal competition, intergroup competition, goal structure, industry
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