The effect of personal and group goal setting on an individual's behavior in small and large groups in a social dilemma

grantor: University of TorontoThe effect of personal and group goals on an individual's behavior in three-person and seven-person groups in a social dilemma was investigated. High school students (N = 274), were paid $2.30 to $4.94 for 70 minutes of decision making. The results showed that students put their self-interest ahead of that of the group. The setting of a specific group goal had no direct effect on cooperative behavior or group performance. However, self-set personal goals that were compatible with the group goal led to higher group performance than the setting of personal goals that were incompatible with the group goal. Individual and group performance suffered when individuals were not committed to a specific group goal and tenaciously held out for high individual performance. Toward the end of the simulation, cooperation with other group members increased. Members in seven-person groups (N = 28), however, were less cooperative than participants in three-person groups (N = 26). In addition, they had lower self-efficacy in making money, lower outcome expectancies that cooperation with other group members would lead to the attainment of the group goal, and lower collective-efficacy that they would make money than did the members of three-person groups.Ph.D