Presentation by Nicola Dimelow BSc (Student researcher and Masters student)

Overview of the pilot study

Background research

Aim and research questions

Method

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

Group work

University?

WorkSchool

Bullying and

harassment

Negative

experience

Positive

experience

Positive experiences.

57 % business students reported group work was positive. (Burdett, 2003)

generating ideas

social aspect

improved learning ability

reduced workload

better grades

Negative experiences 43% had negative experiences (Burdett, 2003)

Unequal contribution to the task including "free riding"(social loafing)Difficulty in arranging meetingsLack of support from tutors

Pauli et al (2008) reported similar findings using Negative Group Work Experience (NGWE)survey◦ lack of group commitment◦ task disorganisation◦ Storming- including arguments, gossiping and falling

out◦ Fractionated Group- including isolation

Definition: repeated exposure to negative actions by one or more people (Olweus, 1993)

School environment prevalence of 9-32% (Green et al, 2012)

Workplace bullying is increasing (Lewis, 2004).

predicted by leadership style (Hoel et al, 2010)

UniversityCyberbullying (Schenk, & Fremouw, 2012)

There are no sex differences in experiences of indirect aggression or victimization (Leenaars & Rinaldi, 2010)

Little research and non focused specifically at group work.

Definition: when an individual contributes less to

a task than other group members but benefits from the rewards associated with it.

A recurrent theme in group work literature (Myers,2009).

However, to our knowledge, there has been no research investigating the reasons for reduced contribution from the perspective of the perceived Social Loafer

It is possible that the individual is avoiding a negative situation.

Aim: to assess the processes of bullying behaviour specifically during group work.

Questions: What are SHU students perceptions of group work

experiences?

Are bullying (harassment) behaviours observed in group work?

To what extent is perceived social loafing (free loading), associated with group work, a result of avoidance behaviour to bullying?

All psychology and criminology students at Sheffield Hallam University were emailed an invitation to complete the online questionnaire.

66 responded (85.9% female) and 58 completed the survey.

Similar response rate from all levels.

Online Questionnaire(26 questions 2 being qualitative)including ◦ Demographic data (12 questions)

◦ Group work positive experiences

◦ Group work negative experiences including a modified version of Negative Group Work Experience (Pauli,2008)

◦ Observations of bullying and harassment during group work.

◦ Reasons for reduced contributions to the task (social loafing/free loading)

General experiences of group work◦ positive - improved skills

◦ negative- negative behaviours

Social Loafing

12%

52%

24%

12%

Response to comment "my experience of group

work has been positive"

strongly agree

agree

disagree

strongly disagree

0

20

40

60

80

100

worked well

together

improved

negotiation

conflict resolution

skills

project management

skills

listen to other

peoples views

Positive reports of group work experiences (in

percentages)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

problems as

deadlines

approached

individuals

not

completing

their share

of the work

gossiping not talking

to each other

bullying or

harrassment

falling out I did most of

the work

Reported negative experiences during group work (in percentages)

Reduced contribution to task:

28.1% (n=16)admitted to contributing less to a group assignment ◦ not understanding the task (25%),

◦ preference to working alone (37.5%),

◦ other students being more intelligent (25%),

◦ negative group behaviours (12.5%),

◦ members not listening to ideas (18.8%)

◦ too many other commitments (18.8%)

◦ There was a large minority who had negative experiences of group work

◦ Group work provides an environment for bullying behaviours

◦ It could tentatively be argued that some perceived social loafing is due to perceived bullying behaviours.

Mainly referred to unequal contribution but other comments included

left ignored

comments over Facebook

anxiety meant I avoided social situations

dread having to do group work in the future

Group work has many positive aspects however when tutors are designing the task they need to ◦ Be available to individuals who are experiencing

difficulties

◦ Set up a code of conduct for collaborative working

◦ Consider if it is fair to have group work tasks that are assessed

Thank you

Burdett, J. (2003). Making groups work: University students' perceptions. International Educational Journal,4, 177-191.

Green, J.G., Dunn, E.C., Johnson, R.M., & Molnar, B.E. (2012). A multilevel investigation of the association between school context and adolescent nonphysical bullying. Journal of School Violence, 10, 133-149.

Hoel, H., Glaso, L., Hetland, J., Cooper, C.L., & Einarsen, S. (2010). leadership styles as predictors of self reported and observed workplace bullying. British Journal of Management, 21, 453-468.

Lewis, D. (2010). Bullying at work: the impact of shame among university and college lecturers. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 32, 281-299.

Leenaars, L., & Rinaldi, C.M. (2010). Male and female university students' experiences of indirect aggression. Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 25, 131-148.

Myers, S.A., et al.(2009). Dealing with slackers in college classroom work groups. College Student Journal, 43, 592-598.

Olweus, D. (1993). Bullying at school: What we know and what we can do. oxford, England: Blackwell.

Pauli, R., Mohiyeddini, C., Bray, D., Michie, F., & Street, B. (2007). Individual differences in negative group work experiences in collaborative student learning. Educational Psychology: An International Journal of Experimental Educational Psychology, 28, 47-58.

Schenk, A. M., & Fremouw, W.J. (2012). Prevalance, psychological impact and coping of cyberbullyvictims among college students. Journal of School Violence, 11, 21-37.

Skogstad, A., Torsheim, T., Einarsen, S., & Hauge, L.J. (2011). testing the work environment hypothesis of bullying on a group level analysis: Psychological factors as precursors of observed workplace bullying. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 60, 475-495.