The purpose of this paper is to suggest a comparative morphology of groups which would be applicable to the whole of social scientific research. The key to the morphological classes suggested is not a focus on the group system itself but on its relationship with the next higher system--the group system's environment. The information exchange…

The capability of 14 interpersonal dimensions to predict dyadic communication contexts was investigated in this study. Friend, acquaintance, co-worker, and family contexts were examined. The interpersonal valence construct, based on a coactive or mutual-causal paradigm, encompasses traditional source-valence components (credibility, power,…

Under the assumption that traditional approaches to organizational structure have provided little insight into how structure might affect individual attitudes and behavior, this paper describes communication patterns within organizational structures and develops a network approach as a means by which individual response to traditional structural…

Previous research has shown that individuals take more responsibility for group outcomes than other participants attribute to them. To assess whether the interactive component of the group endeavor is the locus of this self-centered bias, group members (N=80) worked on analogies either separately in coaction groups or together in interaction…

A key to the group dynamics process in teleconferencing is interaction and the use of interactive technologies. The user of teleconferencing for instruction has to accept several underlying assumptions: lecture is not necessarily sound instruction, especially for adults; teleconferencing is easy; and teleconferences require planning. Benefits are…

Two public relations campaigns courses designed to provide senior students with practical public relations skills were organized in different ways. One class, employing small four- or five-member teams, implemented short-term projects that consisted of planning and implementing a campaign during the nine-week term. In the other class, students…

A case study of a mixed comprehensive school with an age range of 11-16 investigates the management of the first externally imposed change on the secondary school system during the years 1987-89. Implemented in 1986, the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is a national examination for all 16-year-olds delivered through the subjects…

This paper describes the Detroit Education Task Force and its efforts to develop a problem-solving agenda for the Detroit public schools. The paper describes the background and history of the task force and analyzes its relationship with the Detroit Central Board of Education and with administrators of the Detroit school system. The educational…

A study assessed the validity of applying the Spitzberg and Cupach dyadic model of communication competence to small group interaction. Twenty-four students, in five task-oriented work groups, completed questionnaires concerning self-competence, alter competence, interaction effectiveness, and other group members' interaction appropriateness. They…

Social interactions in Head Start mainstreamed classrooms were studied using as Ss 20 mildly and moderately retarded preschool children and 20 nonretarded children. Data analyzed consisted of the following social interactions: initiations, responses, mode of communication, and affective tone of behavior. Findings showed that retarded Ss generally…

This research summary reports on a 4-month long study of 30 children, ages 10-13, who live at the elementary boarding school on the island of 'Ua Pou, Marquesas Island, French Polynesia. Of the sample of 15 boys and 15 girls, 20 of the children are from a single small valley. Follow-up studies also were done of the families of these children. The…