Report

The Köhler Effect: Definition of terms, empirical observations and theoretical concept.

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Witte, E.H.

Abstract / Description

This study tries to define relevant terms. It outlines those components which influence the processes of motivation gains and losses in groups, namely the unit of research, the measure of performance, the concatenation operation and the type of task. Because of its topicality the Köhler effect is the focus of this study. This effect can be further differentiated into: a) an additive, b) conjunctive, c) loss-avoiding, and d) compensatory Köhler effect, depending on the baseline used, e.g., the average, poorest or most capable group member, or whether a Ringelmann effect can be expected. In addition, the optimal performance ratio needed to produce motivation gains in groups has to be examined. In some cases this ratio remains unspecified, whilst in others it is specifically determined in an attempt to produce gains in motivation. This differentiation of empirical effects can be extended by introducing intervening variables by which the effects can be explained. Here, two kinds of variables are introduced; situational incentives (instrumentality / challenge) and personal dispositions (self-monitoring and the tendency to compete). With these assumptions in mind, a questionnaire study was conducted to supplement existing experimental findings. According to these data a performance ratio can be determined which results in a general Köhler effect, and the situational incentives within varying performance constellations can be assessed and predicted on account of personal motivation dispositions. Finally, the motivation theory based on these findings is used as an extension of the "collective effort model' (Karau & Williams (1993), and suggestions for further research are made.

Keyword(s)

Motivation Gruppe Leistungssteigerung Köhler-Effekt Motivation Leistung (Ausführung) Gruppenleistung Begriffe Theorienbildung Gruppengröße Motivation group Köhler effect performance increase

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2002

Is part of series

Hamburger Forschungsberichte zur Sozialpsychologie;40

Citation

  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Witte, E.H.
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2022-11-17T11:07:01Z
  • Made available on
    2009-01-23
  • Made available on
    2015-12-01T10:30:43Z
  • Made available on
    2022-11-17T11:07:01Z
  • Date of first publication
    2002
  • Abstract / Description
    This study tries to define relevant terms. It outlines those components which influence the processes of motivation gains and losses in groups, namely the unit of research, the measure of performance, the concatenation operation and the type of task. Because of its topicality the Köhler effect is the focus of this study. This effect can be further differentiated into: a) an additive, b) conjunctive, c) loss-avoiding, and d) compensatory Köhler effect, depending on the baseline used, e.g., the average, poorest or most capable group member, or whether a Ringelmann effect can be expected. In addition, the optimal performance ratio needed to produce motivation gains in groups has to be examined. In some cases this ratio remains unspecified, whilst in others it is specifically determined in an attempt to produce gains in motivation. This differentiation of empirical effects can be extended by introducing intervening variables by which the effects can be explained. Here, two kinds of variables are introduced; situational incentives (instrumentality / challenge) and personal dispositions (self-monitoring and the tendency to compete). With these assumptions in mind, a questionnaire study was conducted to supplement existing experimental findings. According to these data a performance ratio can be determined which results in a general Köhler effect, and the situational incentives within varying performance constellations can be assessed and predicted on account of personal motivation dispositions. Finally, the motivation theory based on these findings is used as an extension of the "collective effort model' (Karau & Williams (1993), and suggestions for further research are made.
    en
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bsz:291-psydok-23077
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11780/574
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.9127
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Is part of series
    Hamburger Forschungsberichte zur Sozialpsychologie;40
  • Keyword(s)
    Motivation
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Gruppe
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Leistungssteigerung
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Köhler-Effekt
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Motivation
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Leistung (Ausführung)
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Gruppenleistung
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Begriffe
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Theorienbildung
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Gruppengröße
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Motivation
    en
  • Keyword(s)
    group
    en
  • Keyword(s)
    Köhler effect
    en
  • Keyword(s)
    performance increase
    en
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    The Köhler Effect: Definition of terms, empirical observations and theoretical concept.
    en
  • DRO type
    report
  • Visible tag(s)
    PsyDok