Team Role Preference and Cognitive Styles

Abstract

While exploring the relationships between the strength of an individual’s team roles and his or her cognitive styles, this study examines the convergent validity of the Team Role Self-Perception Inventory (TRSPI) with Kirton’s Adaption-Innovation Inventory (KAI). Data were obtained from two samples of 109 managers and 114 students. Results from students were compared to those obtained by Fisher, Macrosson, and Wong (1998) to explore differences arising from the use of Cattell, Eber, and Tatsuoka's (1970) 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) and the TRSPI. Data from managers were used to examine convergence between team role preferences and cognitive styles. The TRSPI showed convergent validity with Kirton’s cognitive styles. KAI subscale correlations were more coherent than those obtained by Fisher et al. probably due to misinterpretation of innovative and adaptive subscale scores. Cognitive style differences were found in the two samples. Future research and practical implications for team-building interventions and team performance are discussed.