Explores inconsistent findings in earlier brainstorming research. Indicates that variation in the number of high and low apprehensive communicators assigned to a brainstorming group affects member productivity, perceptions of status differentiation, and satisfaction with the group. Supports the conclusion that communication predispositions and…

Provides an insight into the group process of therapy and compares and contrasts the T-group process with therapy group process. The here-and-now orientation was present in T-group and therapy-group interaction. Greater relational conflict was present in the T-group. Members of the therapy group were much more defensive than members of the…

Focusing on a group of drug users, this article examines behavioral and attitudinal coping strategies in paranoia and illustrates how the management of paranoia may create elaborate interaction rituals which serve both to "protect" group participants and to reinforce a collective orientation among them. (Author/EB)

Examines the effect of communication media on group processes and the consequent effect of processes on group cohesiveness, satisfaction, and productivity using mediated regression analysis. Supports previous findings about group outcomes by showing that communication media groups expressed lower cohesiveness than did face-to-face groups. (AEF)

Traces the historical background and describes the symptomology relating to mass hysteria and psychogenic illness. After prescribing a case study of an incident of such behavior at a mid-western university, explores the implications for staff training in student areas. (Author/KW)

Describes a collaborative classroom process that helps build cohesion among group members by placing all students into the roles of writer, reader, editor, and evaluator. Presents six teaching tips for the process. (RS)

Describes characteristics of immature, or regressive groups, including avoidance of conflict, abdication of responsibility, and psychic numbness; and characteristics of mature, or generative groups, including group transcendence. Examines the notion of group mind and concludes that the evolution of mind is dependent on the group's psychological…

Investigated self-disclosure in college students (N=144) who were assigned to groups of four receiving either a self-disclosure or placebo treatment. Found self-disclosure intervention resulted in significantly higher group cohesiveness, commitment to task and productivity; females demonstrated greater cohesiveness and commitment to task than did…

Addresses the potential of camp to promote self-esteem and nurture a sense of community. Summarizes articles in this journal issue that focus on individual and group behavior including homesickness, how camps can promote positive attitudes toward disabled campers, and a camp program that provides respite care for families of children with AIDS.…

Presents study results examining social pressure within sexually homogenous groups. Explains that cohesiveness, based on common beliefs, was established in half of the sample while prevented in the remainder. Reports that groups were required to reach consensus after conflict was introduced. Concludes that low cohesion groups showed the greatest…

A study investigated behaviors, interactions, and learning outcomes of 22 children with learning disabilities who participated in structured and unstructured group activities. Children in the structured groups were more involved in group activities, provided more directions and help to others, and obtained a significantly higher performance on a…

Describes research used to develop an original instrument, the Workforce Diversity Questionnaire, to assess interactions in diverse workgroups. States that a set of proposed dimensions was developed theoretically from literature on cultural diversity, discrimination, and intergroup processes. Explains how validity was tested through confirmatory…

This article reports the group equivalents to deep and surface learning approaches by individuals. The learning behaviour of out-of-class student groups was examined through 57 individual and 15 focus group interviews with university students in Hong Kong. A number of types of learning activities were identified and most had variants with…

Considering recent claims that groups are important to teaching and learning, the authors examine the differences between groups and collections of people to see how one might create learning groups when designing learning and instruction. Based on literature in the fields of group dynamics and education, characteristics of groups are listed and…

After a brief review of integrative small group learning models that have appeared in the educational psychology literature, this article then looks into the group dynamics literature and describes one of that field's most well-documented findings: that interactions among group members change somewhat predictably over time. How theorists from…