Manipulated external status of a target by presenting person as ethnic majority female, ethnic minority male, or ethnic majority male discussing issue with four ethnic majority males. Subjects were college students (N=219). Results were consistent with previous research showing odd person in a group is more salient than other group members. (ABL)

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…

This study suggests female and male verbal behavior should be viewed separately when analysing task-importance. Ego-involvement works with task importance to create atmospheres of maximum involvement. Characteristics of communication and group pressure for uniformity are identified. (MFD)

Examined if making group goals of decision acceptance and quality explicit versus leaving them unstated would influence the decision-making effectiveness of male and female interacting groups. Explicitly stating that group members should strive for acceptance increased group decision-making quality and increased individual acceptance of the group…

Performed two studies to examine things unsaid in group counseling. Examined categories of things unsaid, relationships between types of things unsaid, stage of group development, and gender. Found more advice and outside things unsaid during orientation-inclusion stage and more positive feeling and empathic things unsaid during affection-cohesion…

Research on gender differences in group performance suggests that males excel at brainstorming while females excel at human relations and integration. To investigate the relations among gender, interaction style, and task performance, 264 college students (130 female, 134 male) worked in three person same sex groups on a production task which…

Evaluated the effect of monetary incentives on cigarette smoking in 120 college students. Results indicated that monetary incentive was generally effective in reducing smoking. Incentives offered to a group (sorority and fraternity) were more effective among females, while individual incentives were more effective with men. (JAC)

The effects of seating distance and orientation on small-group behavior were investigated in male and female four-person groups. The nonfacing orientation produced more frequent self-manipulative behaviors and postural adjustments and longer pauses than the facing orientation. Processes underlying orientation effects and their potential…

"Outlier studies" identify items for which extreme differences in performance by contrasting groups occur; these extreme items are the "outliers" referred to. Review of the studies conducted on tests receiving major use in higher education reveals that though one cannot make a priori classifications of outliers with confidence,…

Investigated effects on group member satisfaction and communication behavior when male and female leaders either maintained or lost reward power during problem-solving sessions. Found group member communication was more substantive and positive when leaders maintained reward power than when they lost it; communication behavior was also affected by…

After 177 college students in 49 groups participated in group tasks, their perceptions of those groups and individuals in the groups were analyzed for gender differences. In the discriminant analysis of the three interpretable factors for perception of groups (group cohesiveness, power, and personality), gender was a predictor of an individual's…

It can be very difficult for writers to invent classroom communities, to share their writing; it can be especially difficult for anxious young writers who have never before worked in peer groups. Student participation is largely influenced by gender roles shaped by years of socialization. Teachers should not be startled by less female…

Two studies involving 135 female and 21 male undergraduates compare effects of masculinity and femininity on rater and ratee evaluations of emergent leader behavior in mixed-sex and same-sex groups. Masculinity is not associated with peer-rated leadership, but femininity is correlated with two measures (self-task and self-relationship) of…

Differential item functioning (DIF) methodology for revealing sources of item difficulty and performance characteristics of different groups was explored. A total of 150 Scholastic Aptitude Test items and 132 Graduate Record Examination general test items were analyzed. DIF was evaluated for males and females and Blacks and Whites. (SLD)