Much research has studied cohesiveness within client groups in terms of making therapeutic gains. These studies have defined cohesiveness in terms of a) attraction of the group as perceived by a group member, b) how clearly each member sees his/her role within the group, and c) the effectiveness of one's skills in attaining group goals. Little research has dealt with the role of staff cohesiveness in developing an effective treatment program. Effectiveness, in this study, is defined as the degree to which clients are willing to disclose personal information to the staff. The results show a positive correlation between staff's perceived effectiveness with clients and the clients' willingness to self-disclose. On-hand experience with clients seems important in involving clients in therapy.

The increasing reliance on technology for communication seems to have shown that nontechnology or traditional team building activities may not be effective in improving certain interpersonal skills (Klein et al., 2009). The researcher investigated whether the use of a serious game, i.e. an educational video game, is a better mode of delivery to improve group problem solving, team cohesiveness, team learning behaviours and, perceived team psychological safety rather than traditional team building intervention, i.e. a non-technology-based team building intervention (Emsley & Rumeser, 2018; Edmondson, 1999). The researcher conducted two post test only quasi-experiments to compare the methods of team-building. In Study 1, four teams of university students (n=15 total students) took part in either a serious game or a traditional team building intervention. The serious game was based on a scavenger hunt mobile application while the traditional team building activity was an obstacle course. Each team was assessed, after the team building interventions, on their group problem-solving skills and team cohesiveness in order to determine if there was a significant difference between the scores of the two dimensions above for intervention groups. Study 2 consisted of six teams of university students (n=30 total students) participated in either a traditional online team-building activity or an online team-based serious game. The traditional online team-building activity was a spectrum mapping activity, and the online team-based serious game was an online escape room. Each team then participated in the same thought experiment and were finally asked to answer a questionnaire. Furthermore, a field researcher participated in both activities and her experiences were noted through an interview. There did not seem to be sufficient evidence to support the hypotheses for the second quasi experiment. However, the was evidence collected throughout both quasi-experiments that suggests that serious games are more enjoyed by participants and there seems to be a clearer initiative to utilise the interpersonal skills acquired in the future.

This paper has had the ambition to answer the question does people’s perception of group difference affect their sense of societal cohesiveness? Using survey data from a Swedish 2015 study conductedby the SOM-institute this study looks at people living in Sweden’s perceptions of differentgroup identities to see which elements come at play in forming an over-all sense of societal cohesion.This study combines theories on social capital in relation to group identities to create anadvanced model to test the data in. The analysis confirmed that people’s discernment of other groups indeed affects the level of societal cohesiveness, and that respondents who felt a stronger emotional connection towards groups with another economy, education and culture were more likely to feel like a part of the Swedish society and to be more trusting of others.

This study explored the school climate of adult basic education centres by investigating the extent to which these education centres showed evidence of control, staff cohesiveness, physical resources, and safe and orderly environment. The study was inspired by a lack of school climate studies that focused on adult basic education centres as many school climate studies had concentrated on investigating the school climate of primary and secondary schools. The broad research question which was addressed in the research study was: ‘What is the nature of the school climate of adult basic education centres as perceived by educators?’ The participating educators were randomly selected and a survey – in the form of a questionnaire – was administered. The questionnaire comprised the four scales mentioned above. The items from the four scales were validated through the use of both face and content-related validity procedures. Face validity was ensured through pre-testing. Content validity was achieved through expert review of the items used. The extent to which these items could be included as part of a scale was further explored by means of reliability analysis whose acceptable coefficient alpha was benchmarked at 0.65 and above. Reliability was used to explore the reliability of the questionnaire. The aspect of reliability used for this purpose was analysis of internal consistency. The main purpose was to ascertain whether all the items used in the four scales collectively measured the construct school climate. For example, the reliability analysis for the variable control had 0.79 as its coefficient alpha whilst the reliability analysis for the variable staff cohesiveness, physical resources and safe and orderly environment had 0.76, 0.89, 0.84 as corresponding coefficient alpha respectively. This implied that most items within the four scales measured the construct control, staff cohesiveness, physical resources, safe and orderly environment as part of the construct school climate. Furthermore, the coefficient alphas of these four scales compared well with the overall coefficient alpha of 0.84 for this study, which further implied that each of the scales had an immense contribution in the measurement of the construct school climate. Based on the scale rubric designed for the variable control (high score 28-21: moderate score 20-14; low score 13-0), the results from the analysis indicated that the centres under review had a fair level of control mechanisms in place as in all these centres the mean score varied between 23 and 25. On the basis of the scale rubric devised for staff cohesiveness (high score 32-24; moderate score 23-16; low score 15-0), it was also revealed that the majority of the centres had evidence of staff cohesiveness, as no low score was recorded for in most cases the mean score revolved between 22 and 25. Although, the results further indicated that there was an average degree of physical resources in most centres, it also became clear that not all centres had the same level of physical resources at their disposal as the majority of the centres had a mean score that fluctuated between 18 and 33. The scale rubric for physical resources was: between 40-30 for high score; between 29-20 for moderate score and between 19-0 for low score. Finally, the mean score for the variable safe and orderly environment alternated between the minimum mean score of 17 and the maximum mean score of 21. Based on the latter mean scores, it became clear that the majority of the centres had a safe and orderly environment level that fell within the moderate score category (between 20-14) whilst the remaining two centres had a high score category (between 28-21) and no centre had a low score category (between 13-0). / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

School climate has been of interest internationally for a number of years not only because school climate has been linked to the effectiveness of the school but also to learner achievement. School climate was the focus of this research study and in particular the development of a school climate questionnaire for learners in Pretoria schools. Prominent factors influencing school climate were identified from literature and six of the more prominent factors were selected for study namely cohesiveness, trust, respect, control, violence and physical infrastructure. These were conceptualised in terms of systems theory using an input-throughput-output model. Input into the system is the learners, educators, principals, policies on school-level as well as policies on National level and resources. The throughput was considered as the process of interaction between the learners, educators and principals and how this influences cohesiveness, trust, respect, control, violence and physical infrastructure. The interplay results in behaviours, perceptions and attitudes of the principal, educators and learners, which influences the atmosphere within the school (output). Survey research was undertaken in order to collect data on the six factors from the perspective of the learner. A self-administered questionnaire was used and was developed based on numerous school climate instruments. These instruments were studied and items associated to the factors were identified for possible inclusion in the questionnaire. The items chosen were then taken and rephrased to make them relevant for the South African context. Experts in the fields of psychology, education and instrument development rated the items in terms of appropriateness, relevance, language and readability. The comments were then included and the questionnaire piloted in one school in Pretoria. Based on an initial analysis minor changes were made to the questionnaire, which was then administered in three schools in and around Pretoria. In total 608 learners participated in the study, 166 learners in the pilot study and 442 learners in the main study. Some problems were identified with the questionnaire, which included the language of the items and that of the learners. The instrument was found to have face and content validity. The initial reliability analysis indicated that some of the factors attained reliability coefficients that were lower than the set limits. As a result item-total analysis was undertaken and it was found that certain items did not correlate well with the scale. A factor analysis was also undertaken for further scale development. Five factors were extracted using principal components analysis; the previously conceptualised factors were incorporated in different ways than anticipated. These factors were conceptualised and named Interaction, Cohesion, Learning environment (which is on a classroom level) and Resources. The only factor that concurred with the original conceptualized factors was Violence. The developed questionnaire clearly depicted these individual aspects of school climate and could distinguish between the different school contexts. / Dissertation (MA (Research Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Psychology / unrestricted

This study aims to explain the demarcations regarding which crimes that are seen as “acceptable” to commit as an police officer, and those who categorizes as “not acceptable”. The study is based on a qualitative, narrative method of semi-structured interviews. Antecedent research shows the strong subculture in the police force and the approach of seeing the police profession as a lifestyle. This study uses Erving Goffmans dramaturgic perspective on society by applying “Team”, “Front Stage and “Back Stage” to explain why the demarcations is the way it is. By studying “Front Stage” as police officers in front of the public and “Back Stage” as a closed space for the police officers, the essay intends to see how police officers, seen as a team, deal with wrongful acts made by an police officer. By using an constructed sorting model the study separated the data from ten interviewed police officers by categorizing into ways of legitimizing crimes commited by an police officer. The study aims to show understanding in why unethic and unlegal deeds by police officers are not reported, and therefore legitimized by the subculture. The conclusion of this essay is that there are two ways to legitimize wrongful acts of police officers. These two ways are by the norms “Us versus them” and the silence code. We created two concepts in combination with the use of the theories of Goffman. This paper will show how the two concepts, ”team offset” and ”team censoring”, can legitimize crimes as a part of the subculture. To be able to legitimize a wrongful act, the police officer needs to use his team. If the team can not legitimize the crime, it categorizes as “not acceptable”.

This study examined the relationship of group cohesion among heterogeneous and homogeneous groups on individual treatment outcome of child-parent relationship therapy (CPRT). CPRT is a filial therapy model that targets the parent-child relationship as a means for preventing or improving child and/or family problems. This study included 30 parents or caregivers from 9 groups which met for 10 sessions. Participants qualified for this study if their groups ended with at least 3 group members and 2 leaders, all pretest and posttest data on their child between the ages of 2-11 was completed, and if they attended at least 6 of the 10 sessions. Correlation coefficients, t-tests, and effect sizes were calculated. Results demonstrated no statistically significant differences between pretests and posttests on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for all 30 participants; however, differences in measured effect (η2) between children identified with borderline and clinical behavior problems and children with normal behavior problems suggest that CPRT is more effective among children who demonstrate significant behavior problems. Perceived and observed group cohesion measurements demonstrated no significant difference at the individual outcome level. This finding suggests that group cohesion may not be related to individual outcome. Although there was no significant relationship between group cohesion and individual outcome for this study, results of the group measurements regarding engagement and group cohesiveness, coupled with previous studies on CPRT effectiveness, suggest that CPRT should be utilized in homogeneous groups.

En fallstudie har genomförts för att undersöka Farsta stadsdelsförvaltnings arbete med att tillämpa kollektiv förmåga i trygghetsarbetet i stadsdelen Farsta strand i Stockholms län för att bidra till förståelsen för begreppet och hur det relaterar till trygghet samt kan praktiseras i Sverige. En dokumentstudie av kommunala hemsidor och dokument samt en fallstudie om konkreta insatser i stadsdelen har genomförts och analyserats för att undersöka hur väl insatserna överensstämmer med teoretiska kriterier kring kollektiv förmåga och vilka lärdomar som kan dras av dem. Studien fann att insatserna verkade stämma överens väl med teorin och att olika lärdomar kring anpassning efter lokala förutsättningar, samverkan med andra aktörer och förtroendeingivande insatser möjligtvis kunde dras av stadsdelsförvaltningens arbete. Studien fann också viss utvecklingspotential hos insatserna gällande fördjupning av det praktisk arbetet, större inkludering av boende och diversifiering av insatsernas innehåll. Överlag ska resultaten tolkas med försiktighet på grund av begränsningar i studiens omfattning. / A case study was conducted to investigate Farsta stadsdelsförvaltning’s practice of applying collective efficacy in the safety practice in Farsta strand in Stockholm County in order to contribute to understanding the concept of collective efficacy, how it relates to safety issues and how it can be practised in Sweden. A study of municipal documents and websites as well as a case study of different local interventions in the area has been conducted. This in order to investigate to what degree these interventions align with theoretical criteria of collective efficacy and the lessons they can teach to other municipal organisations in Sweden. The study found that the interventions seemed to align well with the theory and that different lessons possibly can be learned about adapting the work to local conditions, coordinating interventions with other actors and increasing trust in public institutions. The study also found some potential for development of the interventions such as deepening the practical work, including residents more and diversifying the interventions’ substance. Overall the results should be treated with caution due to limitations in the study’s comprehensiveness.