Video:

The effect of team reflection on team work competences, team work processes and team performance in multidisciplinary student teams doing interdisciplinary research.

Roosemarijn Van Woerden, Utrecht University

Abstract

The effect of team reflection on team work competences, team work processes and team performance in multidisciplinary student teams doing interdisciplinary research

Roosemarijn Van Woerden, Utrecht University

This video presents a study that aims at finding out how we can improve students’ ability to perform well in multidisciplinary teams doing interdisciplinary research by explicitly addressing ways to improve team performance and team work competences through reflection sessions with a facilitator.

Using a quasi-experimental research design with both quantitative methods and qualitative methods, this study tested the hypothesis that more reflection on teamwork would lead to higher levels of team work competence and better team work in multidisciplinary student teams.

Students report in interviews that they find reflection helpful in amongst others understanding team dynamics, learned to communicate about expectations, own strengths and weaknesses, to listen more carefully and to build trust and cohesion. Students also report improvement in team work skills. However, quantitative analysis of a pre- and post-test questionnaire shows that these comments are not reflected in the quantitative results, as there was no significant difference between intervention and control groups when it comes to improvement in team work skills nor in the quality of team work processes and team performance. These results are presented together with possible explanations for those differences.

The researchers do not have the possibility to join the Its21 Conference, but are pleased to be able to share their research results through this video.