College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

Summer 8-21-2016

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Doug Cellar, PhD

Second Advisor

Suzanne Bell, PhD

Abstract

This thesis investigated the role of facets of trait psychological collectivism (Preference, Reliance, Concern, and Goal-Priority) and the personality trait cooperativeness in the development of Team Mental Models. Team Mental Models (TMMs) are shared representations of a work team’s context that aid a team in directing behaviors and coordinating actions. I utilized Marks, Mathieu, and Zaccaro’s (2001) taxonomy of team processes to explicate and test a model detailing the role of composition in TMM development. Data were collected from 35 teams of 5 individuals who completed a computer simulation in which the team interdependently replicated pictures using blocks. Multiple regression analyses were used to test a mediation model of team trait personality composition, team mental models, team processes and team performance. TMMs and the team traits Reliance and Preference were found to positively predict team performance; however, the mediated model was not supported. Implications and future directions are discussed.

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