Grieve, F. G., Whelan, J. P., & Meyers, A. W. (2000). An experimental examination of the cohesion-performance relationship in an interactive team sport. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 12, 219-235.

Undergraduate male volunteers were randomly assigned to receive either a cohesion-producing or a cohesion-reducing manipulation before competing in 3-man basketball games. The manipulation increased and reduced cohesion successfully.

Level of cohesion had no impact on team performance. Winning had an impact on increasing cohesion more so than did losing.

Implication. Team cohesion results from winning. It is not a factor that contributes to winning. Performance has more impact on cohesion than cohesion has on performance.

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