The data presented in this study suggest that perception of optimism can be accurately ascertained.
On the one hand, when an individual is optimistic then that individual is more likely to perceive group optimism more optimistically than an individual who is not initially optimistic.
Correlations between individual optimism contributed and group optimism levels were r = 0.472, p < 0.001, for individual optimism and individual optimism perceived r = 0.353, p < 0.001, and at the group level the average group optimism and individual perception of group optimism r = 0.396, p < 0.001.
Table 1 presents the results of regression analysis for average group optimism with optimism perceived.
For instance, it may be observed that when individual group members are optimistic, this optimism carries over to the rest of the group members.
Finding Two: The more optimistic the individual within a group, the more optimistic the perception of the group's optimism.
Table 2 presents the results of a one way ANOVA that was conducted to identify significant differences between the factor variable, individual optimism, the dependent variable, and the perception of group optimism.
Overall, the results of the analyses provide a dynamic insight into the personality dimension of optimism and the ability to perceive optimism in a group setting.
This finding shows the effects group optimism has on individual group member optimism.
After a review of the literature and the currently available measures, two specific measures for optimism seemed to be best suited for this research.
Following the practices of the reviewed literature, the data regarding the optimism of the group was averaged for each responding team.
As a result of the factor analysis, six variables loaded at acceptable levels, OP1 on individual optimism 0.717, OP2 on individual pessimism 0.750, OP3 on individual optimism 0.733, OP4 on individual pessimism 0.743, OP5 on individual pessimism 0.694, and OP6 on individual optimism 0.684, in three iterations.
The pessimism variables were reverse scored for optimism contribution and reliability assessed using Cronbach alpha.
The summations of individual optimism scores were calculated to determine a total optimism that would be contributed to the group.
