Measuring Perceptions of Engagement in Teamwork in Youth Development Programs

Abstract

The literature regarding teamwork has supported the idea that the key to improving team performance is to understand team processes. Early work within the realm of teamwork focused on quantifiable measures of team performance, like number of products developed. The measure of a successful team hinged on whether or not the team accomplished the end task. In more recent years, the focus has shifted to other measures of team functioning such as communication, problem solving, decision making, planning and task coordination, goal setting, and conflict resolution. The purpose of this study is to report the development and construct validity of an instrument to measure perceptions of engagement in teamwork among middle school aged youth.

Validity and Reliability of the Teamwork Scale for Youth

“…Within PYD-focused social service initiatives, which focus on adequately preparing youths for adulthood, one of the key competencies identified for youth development and a successful transition into adulthood is teamwork (Cater & Jones, 2014). This emphasis on teamwork is because, as a skill set, teamwork is often believed to be transferable to other contexts outside a team or group and therefore has broader implications for youths' work.…”

“…The ability to work with others is important, since many work-related tasks often exceed the capabilities of a single individual and therefore must be accomplished by several people. Moreover, teamwork-focused activities help to supply youths' opportunities for peer interactions, which provide conditions for youths' to actively learn the knowledge and skills needed for relating to others (Cater & Jones, 2014). As a result, teamwork is considered central to effective group collaboration and cooperation and is highly valued and intentionally developed within social work interventions.…”

“…As a way to promote positive youth developmental (PYD) outcomes and continued successes throughout the life span, social work and youth development literature often supports the development of the teamwork skill (Anderson-Butcher, Riley, Amorose, Iachini, & Wade-Mdivanian, 2014; Cater & Jones, 2014; Gould & Carson, 2008; Hellison, 2011; Tucker, 2009). The specific definition of teamwork has been contested over the years, as it has been splintered into many different unique categories, themes, and constructs (Salas, Sims, & Burke, 2005).…”

“…The concept of teamwork and the ability to effectively perform within a group or team is pertinent and imperative for success within a multitude of contexts of one’s life (Baker et al, 2004; Cater & Jones, 2014; Newman, Lower, Riley, Wade-Mdivanian, & Anderson-Butcher, 2014). Youths are responsible for completing tasks with others such as peers at home, during school, and throughout the community.…”

Supervisory Practices in a Virtual Internship Program: A Multi-Case Study

“…These findings suggest a disconnect between what modern-day businesses want in their employees and what academic institutional training provides (Scogin et al, 2017). Experiential learning activities, such as internship programs have been shown to increase critical thinking skills, develop teamwork, and contribute to higher order thinking skills (Cater & Jones, 2014;Heinrich, Habron, Johnson, & Goralnik, 2015;Ives & Obenchain, 2006).…”