This guide was designed to help individuals interested in developing caregiver support groups. It begins with an overview of the caregiving situation, identifying stresses associated with caregiving and factors which have been shown to moderate stress. Purposes of a support group are discussed; differences between support and therapy groups are…

Discussion groups are an excellent instructional strategy for exploring ideas, disclosing views on issues, and uncovering learning needs. Their strength lies in that they draw upon the experiences and values of the group members. They are most successful when structured in such a way that they encourage all members to contribute freely to the…

This paper examines the role of Colorado's community-based child protection teams in the investigation and treatment of child abuse and neglect. The first section contains data from a survey of all Colorado counties as reported by team coordinators and members. It includes information on team composition, structure and operation, and training. The…

Sociometric technique was used to study group dynamics among adult teachers and adult learners in a functional literacy program in order to determine class leadership. The study was undertaken to locate the group structure of students based on perceived best student, intelligence, popularity, and leadership. Four sociograms depict the…

Explores the background and rationale of efforts to develop LOGS: a Language of Group Skills which encodes a core of six group competencies in behavioral terms. Joins the organizational development concept of a common language for management to the adult education concept of self-directed learning. (LLL)

Discusses the advantages of using the unstructured group in teaching interpersonal communication and notes the learning processes which take place specifically in this type of group experience. (MH)

The article describes an instructional program designed to provide a broad professional foundation in group work, and, under supervision, provide opportunities to develop and perfect skills in the group counseling process. (Author/BY)

Research bearing on three aspects of small group learning is examined: (1) the relationship between interaction and achievement, (2) cognitive process and social-emotional mechanisms bridging interaction and achievement, and (3) characteristics of the individual, group, and reward structure that predict interaction in small groups. (Author/PN)

Uses social systems theory to analyze the interaction of an informal group of family and friends formed around an individual in an intensive care unit. Discusses contributors to dissension including ambiguity of the task structure, fluidity of leadership and power, and failure of a utopian defense. (Author/JAC)

Groups (N=62) of four members each used a multiple role-playing technique under three conditions: majority rule, unanimity rule, or no assigned decision rule. Results suggested that assignment of a majority rule has greater potential for reducing power inequalities. Discusses changes in members' self-perceived power. (Author/RC)

Explores which racial configurations of black people and white people are most or least satisfactory in small-group interactions. Findings indicate that varying the racial composition of 30 four-person groups affected significantly the reported experiences of group members; both racial and gender differences were observed. Implications for group…

Reports on research from the Novocherkassk State Technical University on ways that student groups with different social structures influence the climate of learning. Raises questions about the ability of students educated during the period of mass education to adapt to new methods of learning being introduced into Russian higher education. (DSK)

Uses a sociometric analysis to explore the differential organization of boys' and girls' peer groups. Finds that boys structure their peer groups by creating a large central cluster composed of smaller integrated clusters, whereas girls form small clusters unrelated to one another. Nevertheless, girls are aware of and sensitive to the status of…