Building the Emotional Intelligence and Effective Functioning of Student Work Groups: Evaluation of an Instructional Program

Abstract

Group-based learning is common practice in university classrooms. Despite the frequent student complaint of social loafing from teammates, methods for teaching students how to address teamwork issues are rarely incorporated into group assignments. Students are instructed on their final product, rather than their group process. In this article, an instructional method based on group emotional intelligence (GEI) theory for assisting students in addressing potential group derailment is described. The effectiveness of the model for building strong group norms and reducing social loafing was evaluated using a comparison group design. Formative and summative evaluation results are presented. Findings suggest that the instruction positively affected group handling of emotions and reduced social loafing behaviors.

Keywords:

• cooperative learning
• emotional intelligence
• group instruction
• social loafing
• student teams