THE FACTORS INFLUENCING GROUP COHESION AT HUMANITARIAN AND TECHNICAL STUDENTS’ GROUPS

Abstract

The article studies the factors influencing group cohesion at humanitarian and technical students’ groups. The survey included 324 students of Vasily Stus National University in Donetsk and Vinnitsa State Pedagogical University. The study was carried out using the following methods: the method estimating development of small groups, Rogers-Diamond techniques estimating social and psychological adaptation, Schwartz Value Survey, Leontiev’s test of life-meaningful orientations, Guildford's “Social Intelligence” test, and Danilchenko’s subjective well-being technique. These methods allowed measuring and exploring the features of group cohesion, as well as the characteristics of a group and personal characteristics of its members. SPSS statistical package was used for data processing, in particular, frequency, correlation and regression analyses. We found out from the performed research that groups of student in different specialties had different characteristics. Humanitarian students were characterized by high group development, adaptation, self-acceptance, acceptance of others, emotional comfort, internality, high awareness and emotional intelligence, they assessed the psychological climate in their groups as good. Humanitarian students were more successful communicators. They could use the maximum information about people’s behaviour, understood the non-verbal communicative language, and successfully predicted behaviour of others. In turn, students in technical specialties were characterized by a strong desire to dominate, escapism and a desire for security. The performed regression analysis showed that the factors of group cohesion of humanities students and technical students were also different. Group cohesion of humanitarian students was determined exclusively by group motivation. Technical students needed group motivation, a tendency toward affiliation and a positive assessment by their group. These factors will determine in the future an individual’s social status in a group.