Research On Influencing Factors Of University Class’s Cohesion

Sukhomlinsky, an educator of the Suviet Union said,“Collective is the tool ofeducation.” Class is basic combining form of students in universities, which also isbasic unit of developing college students’ educational and management work. Both theneed of extending individuality and competition and cultivating teamwork spirit arenecessary for present college students. Construction and improvement of the classcohesion is needed to improve students’ sense of collective belonging, developteamwork and build their social capital, which has vitally important meanings. Thus, thestrength of class cohesion is an important index to measure class construction quality,and is a significant factor for class building and management.This research makes college classes as study object, brings in Social AnalysisNetwork (SNA)–a method to collect and analyze social network data, visualize andquantize social network structure, sub-groups’ structure and origin, and core person’sdefinition and division. Combing with questionnaire and interviews, we study therelationship between class cohesion and social network structure of class, search theconnection of social network structure, students’ behavior and mental state and strengthof class cohesion. We also find the effects all these factors have on class cohesion. As aresult, we come up with following conclusions:1. The collective layer: Though study the differences between classes with highand lower class cohesion, we find there is a significant positive correlation betweenclass cohesion and class’s social network structure and sub-group constitution. Andhigher-cohesion class has higher density, which proves our hypothesis that density is aindex of class cohesion.2. The core layer: Have researches on class regime and idea, class leader’scharacteristics, and their effects on class cohesion. Research finding shows that on onehand, strong class cohesion goes with clear and strict-going class standard, colorful andreasonable class activities. Effective class activities include learning seminar and group,recreational activities, sports and all kinds of competition. On the other hand, when class leaders are also the key persons in social network, a class may have strongercohesion. And class with leaders having more sense of responsibilities, intimacy andsatisfaction of their own class has stronger cohesion than other classes.3. The individual layer: Study class members’ mental characteristics and itsinfluence on class cohesion. Result shows that there is stronger cohesion when membershave more confidence, intimacy and satisfaction for their own class.On these grounds, we make some suggestions to improve class management anddevelop class cohesion:1. Normalize class management system, have academic and recreational activitiesreasonably and in order with a frequency about three to five times a month, so as to richcollege life and promote integrated development of students.2. Improve conduct and management for class leaders, give timely assistant andsupport for their learning and work, and focus on class leaders’ psychologicalcounseling and quality-oriented education.3. Care about every class members’ learning, life and mental condition, listen toand accept their good suggestions and comments, so as to improve members confidence,intimacy and satisfaction for class.