Conflict, Trust, and Cohesion: Examining Affective and Attitudinal Factors in Science Teams

Abstract

In this chapter we discuss attitudinal and affective factors in the context of science teams. We review some of the key findings on conflict, trust, and cohesion in teams and discuss the differentiation between teamrelated and task-related definitions of each. In so doing, we discuss their relevance to team effectiveness in science teams and provide guidance on notional areas of research for understanding how these are related to effectiveness in science teams.

An integrative review and practical guide to team development interventions for translational science teams: One size does not fit all

“…Moreover, it is especially important that translational team members feel safe engaging in intellectual debate about their goals, the best ways to approach problems, and how to translate findings to stakeholder groups. 67 Psychological safety is important for several team outcomes but is particularly relevant for team innovation, creativity, and learning. 64 However, translational teams may have difficulty developing psychological safety if there is a perceived hierarchy between disciplines.…”

“…While task conflict is beneficial to many teams, it is vital to the performance of translational teams, whose work revolves around the ability to innovate and generate creative solutions to problems. 67 During team meetings, leaders might promote task conflict by asking team members to share counterperspectives or to provide critical feedback on each other's ideas. However, the team leader should work with team members to mitigate relationship conflict so that task conflict is driven purely by intellectual debate rather than by interpersonal issues.…”

“…In translational teams, psychological safety is achieved if all team members, regardless of discipline, feel safe sharing their ideas. Moreover, it is especially important that translational team members feel safe engaging in intellectual debate about their goals, the best ways to approach problems, and how to translate findings to stakeholder groups [67].…”

How to Launch Transdisciplinary Research Communication

“…[8][9][10] Successful team science is built on the foundations of collaboration, communication, and trust. [11][12][13][14] In addition to the practicalities of organizing a project and conducting research, 12,15,16 establishing these foundations requires an appreciation for the role of norms and hidden biases related to power, prestige, rewards, and collegiality. Specifically, each collaborators' ability to effectively share and implement ideas is crucial, but confounded by multiple, possibly unrecognized factors.…”

Assessing collaboration among team scientists within a triadic research center partnership

“…Engaging social scientists in research on the emergent state of team science can enrich inquiry via the development of theoretical models to inform researchers of its unique dynamic and contextual factors. 4 Herein, we employed the long-standing typology of group development (akin to team development) proposed by the Tuckman and Tuckman and Jensen to assess collaborative team science dynamics. 5,6 Tuckman and Tuckman and Jensen categorized the stages as: i) forming, ii) storming, iii) norming, and iv) performing.…”