Small Group Conflict Management Behaviour with the use of Info-communication Technology for Collaborative Learning among Students in Post-Secondary Educational Institutions in Singapore

This thesis reports a study that generated conflict management theory from semi-structured interviews with students from three post-secondary institutions in Singapore, in order to guide ICT-supported small group collaborative learning. The theory proposes that conflicts occur in episodes; in each episode, members move through five stages: (1) tension and confusion, (2) self-awareness, (3) group alignment, (4) impact assessment, and (5) risk assessment. In addition, pre-existing contextual elements and individual conflict style influence members’ first response to conflict, but situational elements determine their real conflict behaviors. Moreover, the group that adopts an intellectual approach will foster group trust and succeed.