Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

The unknown force: How gossip shapes the functioning and performance of organizational groups.

Objective

"Aim: To radically change the field of gossip research, this project builds theory that connects divergent perspectives on the effects of gossip on work group outcomes.

Background: Gossip, informal evaluative talk about absent third parties, is omnipresent in organizational groups. However, for scientists and practitioners alike, it is still an ""unknown force"" in organizations, because research findings about its effects on group functioning and performance are inconsistent. Whereas some studies point to the disruptive aspects of gossip, others claim it enhances group cooperation.

Innovation: I present the Gossip Origins, Subsequent Social Information Processing, and Performance (GOSSIPP)-framework, a new paradigm that views gossip in groups as a multi-level phenomenon: It, for the first time, systematically connects individual gossipers' intentions to group-level outcomes via social information processing by gossip recipients.

Propositions: Group members may gossip to benefit themselves or their group (proself vs. prosocial intentions, or motives). Receivers' reactions to gossip are affected by how they perceive senders' motives. These reactions in turn affect group-level processes. How these processes affect group performance depends on the type of group task.

Methodology: Four subprojects test the framework, applying a cross-disciplinary multi-method approach. Subprojects 1 and 2 employ laboratory experiments to assess causal effects of gossipers' motives and recipients' reactions on group processes and performance. Subproject 3 examines effects of different group compositions and feedback loops between performance and gossip, employing self-organizing computer modelling. Finally, to assess external validity, Subproject 4 examines work teams. Results will lead to long-sought understanding of when and why gossip is a functional or dysfunctional force and will enable evidence-based advice to organizations about the meaning and functionality of gossip for groups."

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2017-COG

See all projects funded under this call

Host institution

STICHTING VU
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 999 693,00
Address
DE BOELELAAN 1105
1081 HV Amsterdam
Netherlands

See on map

Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 999 693,00

Beneficiaries (1)

My booklet 0 0