JOURNAL OF HIGHER EDUCATION THEORY AND PRACTICE

Do Students Achieve Higher Grades When Working Together in Learning

Teams than When Working Through Individualized Study Efforts?

Author(s): Eric A. Landis, Mary Lewis Haley

Citation: Eric A. Landis, Mary Lewis Haley, (2012) "Do Students Achieve Higher Grades When Working Together in Learning Teams than When Working Through Individualized Study Efforts?," Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, Vol.12, Iss. 5, pp. 74 - 86

Article Type: Research paper

Publisher: North American Business Press

Abstract:

According to Barki and Pinsonneault (2001), research existed concerning the effects of teamwork in the business world. Little data was found concerning the effects of teamwork at the postsecondary level. This study used a descriptive, quantitative, correlation methodology to examine whether any difference existed in final course grades between students working in teams and students working individually. Participants were students in public speaking courses at a small private southeastern liberal arts university. This study failed to show any significant difference at the .05 level, t (78) = .36, p = .73.). Students assigned to groups at the beginning of speech classes (M = 87.43, SD = 6.37) showed no variance from peers working individually (M = 86.96, SD = 5.24).