AN EHTNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF COHESIVENESS IN A COLLEGIATE NETBALL TEAM

Abstract

The purpose of this research project was to investigate the consequences and effects of implementing a goal setting intervention half way through a collegiate netball team’s season. The project was an ethnographic study of this team over the course of six months and explored the perceptions of the team’s cohesiveness pre and post a goal setting workshop which was completed mid-way through the season. The participants were 12 female netball players who attended university and played for their fourth team. They were all aged between 18 and 21. Out of the twelve participants only 7 attended the intervention workshop. Data was collected via participant observation and informal interviews, a field diary and reflexive journal were also kept throughout the duration of the observation period. The foundation of the data analysis was based on Wolcott, (1994)’s description-analysis-interpretation approach. The main focus of this study was on the effect goal setting had on the team and its performance. Goal setting was introduced to the team via a short workshop mid-way through the season. The suggestion by Tziner, Nicola and Rizac (2003) that through the development of team goals and tasks, a more positive perception of cohesion may develop which was could also be shown through improved performances, greatly reflected the results of this study. In addition to the effects goal setting had on the perception of cohesion, other influences emerged from completing the research such as the importance of clear and meaningful roles within the team and good communication. Overall the study concluded that goal setting was a major instrument for influencing the cohesiveness of this netball team. Addressing the limitations to the study, such as the implications of using ethnography, and the benefits of using other methods of data collection are issues raised in the discussion. In addition to this, areas for future research have also been proposed.