Abstract
Previous research has examined the effect of collective efficacy on team performance (Feltz & Lirgg, 1998; Hodges & Carron, 1992; Lichacz & Partington, 1996, Moritz et al., 2000; Watson, Chemers, & Preiser, 2001). However, previous research has typically dealt with large teams, which may limit the validity of these results to small teams. The present study focuses on the effect of collective efficacy in dyads. The purpose of this study was to examine if there is a significant effect of collective efficacy on performance in dyads using a laboratory based tug of war task. The sample consisted of 52 undergraduate and graduate students. Female (N = 36) and male (N = 16) dyads were randomly assigned to either a high or low efficacy condition. After a baseline trial, efficacy was manipulated by bogus feedback. Average performance of two post manipulation trials was used as the dependent variable. Manipulation check supported that collective efficacy was significantly higher in the high collective efficacy group than the low collective efficacy group (F(1, 50) = 30.78, p < .05, n2 = .381). A one-way ANOVA revealed no significant difference between average performance and efficacy condition (p > .05). Results of this study may imply that performance in pairs may not be affected as much by collective efficacy. Perhaps self-efficacy influences performance more in dyads.
