Examining Need for Cognition and Feedback with Team Virtuality

Presenter Information

Alison Rusk, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Adam Roybal, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Location

CSU 253/4/5

Start Date

24-4-2007 10:30 AM

End Date

24-4-2007 12:30 PM

Student's Major

Psychology

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Andrea Lassiter

Mentor's Department

Psychology

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

In response to an increase in global operations and the use of computers in the workplace, there has been an expansion of research on dispersed or virtual groups. These are groups that use computers to mediate communication between members (e.g., Kozlowski & Bell, 2003). One area relevant to virtual team effectiveness where there is little existing research is in feedback. The purpose of this research was to examine differences in virtual team effectiveness as it is influenced by performance feedback delivered as an after event review (AER). Additionally, this study examined the role of need for cognition as an individual difference contributing to the relationship between feedback and virtual team performance effectiveness. In virtual team performance environments it is expected that in response to feedback, individuals scoring high in need for cognition will outperform individuals scoring lower in need for cognition. This research presents background information about need for cognition and feedback. In addition, we will present a proposed method for assessing these variables in a lab-based research study.