Definition
“Positive interdependence is linking students together so one cannot succeed unless all group members succeed. Group members have to know that they sink or swim together.” (Johnson, Johnson, & Holubec, 1998, p. 4:7).
“When students clearly understand positive interdependence, they understand that each group member’s efforts are required and indispensable for group success and that each group member has a unique contribution to make to the joint effort because of his or her resources and/or role and task responsibilities” (Johnson, Johnson, & Holubec 1998).
Positive goal interdependence ensures that the group is united around a common goal, a concrete reason for being, such as “learning the assigned material and making sure that all other members of your group learn the assigned material” (Johnson, Johnson and Holubec, 1998, p. 4:8).
Reference
Johnson, D., Johnson, R.& Holubec, E. (1998).Cooperation in the classroom. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.