ABSTRACT
SOCIAL FACTORS IN COOPERATIVE LEARNING GROUPS One component of cooperative learning approaches, which is usually considered a major strength, is that students understand that they cannot be successful unless other members of the group are successful. One term used for this quality is “positive interdependence” (Johnson & Johnson, 1995). Getting students to both understand and buy into positive interdependence is a pivotal factor for success in any cooperative learning activity. Why is this so important? The answer is that when students believe in positive interdependence it leads to individuals taking responsibility for their own work.
