Final answer:
Instructors can indeed let participants decide on group composition, which can help manage group dynamics and encourage collaboration. Methods like flocking have been shown to reduce free-riding and enhance performance, while self-selection can foster diversity and support within the group.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is a fact that when conducting group activities, instructors can allow participants to decide the makeup of the groups. This can help to manage dynamics such as social loafing and foster collaboration.
Group Dynamics in Collaborative Activities
Instructor-led decisions on group formation, like the flocking method, can address issues like "free-riding," as seen in Harding (2018), where structured group formations based on schedules and motivations led to improved group performance and reduced free-riding.
However, permitting students to select their own groups can also be beneficial, encouraging engagement as they work with peers they are comfortable with, though it might lead to challenges like the prisoner's dilemma or tragedies of the commons in large group settings.
Benefits of Self-Selection
Self-selection into groups allows for a variety of opinions and can foster a supportive environment as demonstrated by Solomon Asch. Groups with diverse viewpoints or an ally can increase an individual's confidence in voicing dissenting opinions, promoting a richer dialogue.