THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEADERSHIP AND GROUP COHESION
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEADERSHIP AND GROUP COHESION
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Issue Date
1994
Authors
Gardner, Douglas E.
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Abstract
The relationship between leadership behaviors and group cohesion in high school and junior college baseball and softball teams was researched. 307 athletes from 23 teams responded to two versions of the Leadership Scale for Sports (the perceived and preferred versions) and the Group Environment Questionnaire, while each coach filled out the "intended" version of the LSS. Statistical analyses, from both independent and team analyses, indicated a significant relationship between leader behaviors and group cohesion. Independent correlations between "perceived" leadership and group cohesion were the most significant predictors of this relationship and discrepancy scores between athletes' and coaches perceptions also yielded similar findings. Correlations conducted under the team analysis also confirm these findings. A sub-analysis was also conducted in order to refine and advance hypotheses from earlier research (Westre & Weiss, 1991). Results confirm the relationship between the perceived leader behaviors of "training and instruction" and "positive feedback" and task cohesion for both males and females. Partial support for the relationship between the perceived leader behaviors of "democratic behavior", "social support", and "positive feedback" with social cohesion were found, but were not consistent for both males and females.