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Cited by 80Team Dynamics and PerformanceSport Psychology and PerformanceSocial and Intergroup Psychology

Can High Group Cohesion Be Harmful?: A Case Study of a Junior Ice-Hockey Team

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Rovio, Esa, Eskola, Jari, Kozub, Stephen A., Duda, Joan L., Lintunen, Taru·2009·Small Group Research
DOI 10.1177/1046496409334359
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Abstract

High group cohesion is considered to be beneficial and lead to better performance. This qualitative case study describes a case in which high social cohesion led to a deterioration in a team's performance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships between performance in a team sport and social psychological group phenomena such as cohesion, conformity, groupthink, and group polarization. The participants were members of a junior-league ice-hockey team, consisting of three adult coaches and 22 players aged 15 to 16 years. The data were derived from an interview with the main coach, continuous observation by the principal researcher, and a diary based on observations during one ice-hockey season. The Group Environment Questionnaire was used to assess group cohesion quantitatively. The qualitative data were analyzed by identifying themes that illuminated the research problem. In this study, the team did not perform as expected, and their performance deteriorated during the autumn. Social cohesion was high. In addition, the need to evaluate performance declined because of increased pressure to conform. Pressure to conform, groupthink, and group polarization increased owing to the high level of social cohesion which in turn was associated with the deterioration in the group's performance. Based on the findings it appears that high group cohesion may not always be beneficial to the team and does not necessarily lead to better performance in all situations.

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Research works printed but not linked: 8

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Authors
Rovio, E., Eskola, J., Kozub, S. A., Duda, J. L., & Lintunen, T.
Affiliations
  • LIKES – Foundation for Sport and Health Sciences (FI)
  • University of Tampere (FI)
  • University of Bedfordshire (GB)
  • University of Birmingham (GB)
  • University of Jyväskylä (FI)
Corresponding author
Rovio, Esa
ORCID
Venue
Small Group Research
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2009-04-17
Volume
40
Issue
4
Pages
421-435
ISSN
  • 1046-4964 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-8278
DOI
10.1177/1046496409334359
OpenAlex
W2124500385
Cited by
80
References
30
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 4
FWCI
5.22
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Small Group Research (publishedVersion)
  • University of Birmingham Institutional Research Archive (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion)
  • University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion)
  • University of Bedfordshire Repository (University of Bedfordshire) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Team Dynamics and Performance
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
Keywords
group cohesion, team performance, team sports, ice hockey, conformity, groupthink, group polarization, Group Environment Questionnaire

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