Date of Conferral

2015

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Kizzy Parks

Abstract

Industry and research have shown that, in addition to the knowledge, skills, and abilities of individuals, other factors play an influential role in the efficiency of a team. The research questions for this study examined the influence of functional characteristics, defined as the cognitive and evaluative processes such as intentions, emotions, planning, and perception that influence decisions, on team outcomes and the time it takes to complete a task. Using a quantitative, experimental research design, the research questions were grounded in personality systems interactions as the theoretical framework. Analysis of variance was applied to evaluate the hypotheses with an independent measure used to analyze 114 student participant responses to an online assessment and a team task. Results of a test of between-subjects effect identified their functional characteristic levels. Findings displayed statistical significance with main effect for (a) action orientation and (b) the time it takes to complete an assigned task, F(2, 57) = 3.24, p = 0.047. These findings could serve to decrease organizational costs such as those associated with human resource selection processes, team training, or team performance outcomes. The findings support positive social change by increasing social and behavioral psychologists' understanding of human-to-human behavioral interactions and the influence of functional characteristics on organizational teams.

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