1. Group Dynamics related to sport performance II
Sports Psychology A2

2. Group coordination and
cooperation
Answer on a separate sheet of paper.
3 minutes
TASK 1: How can lack of cooperation within a sports team
lead to problems with team coordination? Provide a sporting
example to illustrate your answer.
Think about...
What is cooperation?
How does it help or hinder in a sporting situation?

3. Topic aims:
By the end of this topic you should be able to:
1. Describe the nature of a group/team (mutual awareness,
interaction, common goal).
2. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Steiner’s model of
group performance (awareness of problems associated with
productivity of a group/team).
3. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of motivational
factors(social loafing); coordination/cooperation factors
(Ringelmann effect) and explain the negative influences on
behaviour that cause dysfunctional behaviour and avoidance of an
active and healthy lifestyle.
4. Explain the factors affecting the formation and development of a
cohesive group/team.
FIRST WE NEED TO SORT THE ROOM OUT

4. The Ringelmann Effect
As group size increases there may be a
decline of individual effort and eventual
productivity. This phenomenon was
first noted by Ringelmann. (The
Ringelmann Effect)

5. The Ringelmann effect
Ringelmann observed a ‘tug – of war’ competition during the
nineteenth century; watching events that included two to eight
competitors. The main points to remember are that he found:
As the groups got bigger individual effort decreased.
Instead of eight men pulling eight times as hard as one, the
group averaged pulling four times as hard as one man.
Therefore he found an inverse (opposing) relationship between
the number of people performing the task and the amount of
effort put in by each of them.
Later research by Ingham et al linked this relationship to a
decrease in motivation rather than its initial link by Ringelmann
to lack of coordination.

6. Ringelmann and Steiner...LINK
TASK 5: Use your knowledge and understanding of Steiner’s
model of productivity and the Ringelmann effect to write a
short paragraph which links the two pieces of research;
drawing the concept of social loafing.
Think about:
Where the two theories crossover?
What is social loafing?
How can you combine them in an explanation which leads to you to
social loafing.

7. Ringelmann and Steiner...LINK
Steiner suggested that lack of actual productivity is a result of
faulty group processes; which he categorised in to two
aspects: Coordination losses and Motivational losses.
Ringelmann’s research has shown that actual performance
decreases with an increase in group size due to lack of
individual effort; Ingham later suggested that this was due to
the motivational losses that Steiner’s identified in his model of
productivity. This loss in actual group productivity
(performance) is more likely due to reduced motivation
(rather than Ringelmanns suggestion of low coordination) has
been termed Social Loafing.

8. Social Loafing
Social Loafing: An individual who attempts to ‘hide’ when placed in
group situations and fails to perform to their potential.
Research in to explaining social loafing by Latane, Harkins and
Williams (1979) proposed that performers demonstrated both
allocation strategies and minimising strategies.
Allocation Strategies: performers are motivated to work hard in
groups but save their best for when they are performing alone or
under close scrutiny when it personally benefits them more.
Minimising Strategies: performers are motivated to give as much or
as little (minimum) effort in order to ‘get by’ and achieve the
task.

9. Homework: Next Thursday
1. Describe a situation from sport that provides opportunities for
performers to ‘loaf’.
2. Using this example; explain possible reasons why performers may
choose to ‘loaf’.
3. Using the sporting example you have given. Identify four
strategies that a coach/teacher could use to minimise the impact
of social loafing and the Ringelmann effect.
4. If the coach/teacher did not attempt to reduce social loafing and
the Ringelmann effect; what impact might this have on performers
sustaining a healthy and active lifestyle?

10. Homework: Next Thursday
1. Describe a situation from sport that provides opportunities for
performers to ‘loaf’.
2. Using this example; explain possible reasons why performers may
choose to ‘loaf’.
3. Using the sporting example you have given. Identify four
strategies that a coach/teacher could use to minimise the impact
of social loafing and the Ringelmann effect.
4. If the coach/teacher did not attempt to reduce social loafing and
the Ringelmann effect; what impact might this have on performers
sustaining a healthy and active lifestyle?