Group identification and group homogeneity: A case study of NOLS courses

Abstract

Group processes are a central aspect of all outdoor adventure education (OAE) programs. How well a group functions is a product of the interactions between individuals and can have an impact on the individual and group outcomes of the program. Group identification shows how members identify with individuals in the group and the group as a whole (Henry, Arrow, & Carini, 1999). By increasing the individual level of group identity, groups can become more efficient and work harder toward the group's goal (Haslam, 2004). When members of the group have higher levels of identity, they see their own values and interests coming together with that of the group, thus “anchoring” them closer and stronger to the group (Anderson, Riddle, & Martin, 1999; Cassidy, 2007). Thus, group identification is a construct that can provide a sense of how well a group functions.