Cooperation and competition in coacting groups

Conducted a study with 96 undergraduates to (a) determine the generalizability of the inverse relation between differential reward structure and group efficiency in high task-interdependence situations from intragroup settings to cogroups and (b) compare the distribution of information in groups with equal and unequal reward structures. Reward structures (equal and unequal) were orthogonally crossed with 2 levels of cogroup relationships (independently and dependently related). Results indicate that competition and cooperation were functions of the reward structures and dependency relationships between cogroups. Magnitude of the inverse relation between differential reward structure and group efficiency decreased when groups were dependently related. The distribution of information was more equal in cogroups with an equal than with an unequal reward structure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).