Browsing by Subject "student teams"

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    Daring to lead: the psychodynamic relationship between anticipated image risk, leader-identity endorsement and leadership emergence in undergraduate student teams
    (2025) Jordan, Emma; Bagraim, Jeffrey
    This study investigated some of factors that influence leadership emergence, despite potential image risks, in undergraduate student teams at a South African university. Data was collected for two studies. Both studies employed a quantitative research design to collect data through electronic, self-report surveys. The first study utilised cross-sectional data from students (N = 353) who had engaged in group work and assignments during their undergraduate career at university. The second study utilised a time-lagged design, in which second-year students (N = 27), who were engaged in group work for a 4-week period, were required to complete self- report surveys at two points in time – before team formation and after team assignment submission. Leader-identity endorsement and leadership emergence were found to be positively related in both Study 1 and Study 2. Anticipated image risk was found to be negatively related with both leader-identity endorsement and leadership emergence. Leader- identity endorsement mediated the relationship between anticipated image risk and leader- identity endorsement. Additionally, leadership self-efficacy mediated the relationship between anticipated image risk and leader-identity endorsement, as well as the relationship between anticipated image risk and leadership emergence. Theoretical and practical implications as well as recommendations for future research are presented.
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    Student Perception of Social Loafing in University Teamwork
    (2019) Singer, Carey; Bagraim, Jeffrey
    This study investigated perceptions of social loafing in undergraduate student teams at a South African university. Student participants, randomly assigned to teams, received coursework instruction about team dynamics (including social loafing) and worked together for 12 weeks on a team assignment that was graded at the end of the semester. Students (n = 243) wrote individual reflections on the reasons for social loafing in student teams. Some (n = 24) also participated in an experiential social loafing exercise. These two sources of qualitative data were used in the development of a survey questionnaire, which was completed by 229 students. Fifty-four percent of the student participants (n = 229) perceived social loafing to have occurred in their teams. Four components of perceived social loafing behaviour were identified using factor analysis: unavailability, poor work quality, tech loafing and discussion non-contribution. Loafer apathy (a general lack of care or interest) predicted significant variance in each of the four loafing behaviours and social compensation. Team performance (assignment grades) was not related to the perceived presence social loafing in a team. Rather than reducing effort in response to perceived social loafing (the sucker effect), a social compensation effect occurred in the perceived presence of poor work quality. Effective leadership moderated the relationship between loafer apathy and tech loafing as well as loafer apathy and social compensation. Practical implications and recommendations for future research are presented.