Date of Award

5-7-2026

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. William S. Kramer

Abstract

Threat assessment teams charged with preventing targeted violence and terrorism make consequential decisions under conditions of ambiguity, time pressure, and incomplete information, yet little empirical research has examined how team processes relate to effectiveness in this setting. This mixed-methods study investigated cognitive trust and task conflict in relation to perceived team effectiveness among threat assessment professionals (N = 63) and examined how team members manage disagreement and build consensus in practice. Participants completed survey measures of these constructs and responded to open-ended questions. Quantitative analyses used hierarchical regression and path analyses; qualitative responses were analyzed using codebook thematic analysis. Higher cognitive trust was strongly and consistently associated with greater perceived team effectiveness. Task conflict showed a modest positive association with perceived effectiveness but did not moderate or mediate the cognitive trust–effectiveness relationship. Qualitative findings identified features of effective teams, including evidence-based deliberation, respectful communication, structured criteria, role clarity, and closure grounded in expertise or authority when disagreement persisted. Respondents also described a precautionary approach in which teams prioritized risk mitigation when uncertainty remained. This study extends trust and conflict research to the high-stakes context of targeted violence and terrorism prevention and highlights the importance of training, facilitation, and organizational structures that support disciplined deliberation and defensible decision-making.

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