%0 Journal Article
%T Do They Have to Like It to Learn from It? Students¡¯ Experiences, Group Dynamics, and Learning Outcomes in Group Research Projects
%A Renee A. Monson
%J Teaching Sociology
%@ 1939-862X
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/0092055X18812549
%X Small-group pedagogies, such as group research projects, are a common instructional method in undergraduate education. The literature suggests that small-group learning has positive effects on learning outcomes, but some students have negative attitudes toward group work, and student complaints about negative group dynamics, such as free-riding, are common. This study examines the relationship between learning outcomes associated with group research projects, student experiences, and group dynamics, controlling for students¡¯ individual characteristics, group composition, task type, and incentive structures. The sample includes data on course records and self-assessment narratives for 240 students who completed a sociology research methods course at a small, private liberal arts institution between 2004 and 2015. Multivariate analyses indicate that students¡¯ experiences have indirect effects on individual learning outcomes, and some aspects of group composition, task type, and group dynamics predict students¡¯ experiences with group research projects
%K group projects
%K collaborative learning
%K group dynamics
%K free-riders
%K multivariate regression
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0092055X18812549