students as a group (positive reward interdependence) or as an individual (reward
independence) results in the same level of mastery if the nature of the task at hand is
a true group task (positive resource interdependence). In their exploratory study,
Bertucci, Johnson, Johnson & Conte (2011) analyzed the effects of task and resource
interdependence on achievement and social support. Researchers manipulated two
cooperative learning groups (positive task and positive resource) by holding positive
goal interdependence constant in both of them and a control group (individual students).
Results indicated that students in both of the CL conditions outperformed
students who worked individually. Corresponding to results concerning social support,
researchers suggested teachers should structure either task interdependence or resource
interdependence to develop academic support among students, whereas establishing
especially resource interdependence when they wish to promote personal support
among group members. Achievement-related results drawn by Bertucci et al. (2011)
are coherent with Johnson & Johnson (2008), who stated that group of students’
achievement level becomes better than individual students when positive goal interdependence
is combined with resource interdependence. When resource interdependence
is not supplemented with other types of positive interdependence, however, achievement
level of students working in group may be lower than students working alone
(Johnson & Johnson, 2008).