University of Twente Student Theses
Activating conflicts? : Types of intragroup conflict and their effect on performance
Noormalal, J.E. (2019) Activating conflicts? : Types of intragroup conflict and their effect on performance.
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| Abstract: | The current studies contribute to research by examining the effect of intragroup conflict type on performance. It was hypothesized that conflicts concerning tasks increase performance through higher levels of behavioral activation. Conflicts regarding personal issues, however, were assumed to decrease performance through lower levels of behavioral activation. Further, in line with the so-called too-much-of-a-good thing effect, it was thought that performance is greatest among moderate task conflicts, with lower levels of performance among low- and high-intensity conflicts. Two experiments were conducted: Study 1 (n = 44) examined the effect of conflict type on behavioral activation. To induce conflicts, participants experienced different conflict types by means of videos and subsequently, behavioral activation was measured. Results showed no changes in behavioral activation among either conflict type. To increase involvement, study 2 (n = 46) asked participants to recall actual past conflicts of both conflict types, after which tests for behavioral activation and performance were conducted. Study 2 showed that both conflict types lead to a decrease in performance without any mediation by behavioral activation. Further, task conflict intensity indeed showed a bell-shaped relationship with subjective performance. These findings imply for organizational theory and related fields that many positively linear assumed effects might be of more complex nature, thereby opening the door for further investigations, and for organizational practice to conscientiously deal with conflicts in order to maintain performance. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology BSc (56604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/78182 |
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