Action science is a communication technique that staff developers can use to increase interpersonal competence and problem-solving skills in schools engaged in the process of school transformation. An example of the action science intervention at a Maryland elementary school is presented. (SM)

This pilot study examined how the individual social-behavioral profiles of six children with language impairment (LI) influenced their ability to work with two typically developing children in cooperative groups. Although the success of individual interactions was highly variable, the LI child's social profile was a good predictor of ability to…

Comparison of the social interactions of nine children with visual impairments and a comparison group of nine children with full sight found that children with visual impairments were capable of interacting with others, but there were differences in the frequency of social initiations and the targets of these initiations. Results support…

A study examined developmental trends in the quality and outcomes of disagreements occurring in the conversation of small groups of acquainted peers. Specifically, the study focused on the relationship of disagreeing and arguing sequences to the general level of topical coherence achieved in the conversation as a whole. Five discussion groups,…

Interpersonal communication competence has been conceptualized as a function of impressions of competence formed in the context of a dyadic relationship, and also in terms of individual behaviors. The Measure of Relational Competence, along with individual self-reports for empathy, role taking, and self-monitoring, were administered for 36…

The study examined social behaviors of 19 gifted and 19 nongifted preschool children. A social behavioral inventory was developed from repeated observations of interactions collected during an 8 week pilot study. Four general categories of behavior were observed and analyzed: verbal positive (greeting, conversation, compliment, concern, laughing,…

A study analyzed the verbal interactions of married couples in high, moderate, and low marital satisfaction groups to determine whether (1) the interaction processes within the three satisfaction groups differed and (2) there were different communication patterns that characterized the interaction processes of the groups. Subjects were 34 young…

A study was conducted on the relationships between information seeking and individual cognitive structures (both individual cognitive complexity and the constructs used to understand others). Specifically, the study sought to determine how people use questions to reduce the uncertainty of meeting new people in impression-formation interviews. The…

The Teacher Performance Assessment Instruments (TPAI), designed to determine (for certification purposes) how well teachers can demonstrate certain minimum teaching skills considered essential to effective teaching, are reproduced in this document. The five evaluating instruments used are: (1) teaching plans and materials; (2) classroom…

Microethnographic techniques are used to study and describe the salient aspects of the social competence acquired by children in a kindergarten or first-grade classroom. The role of the school and the teacher in the socialization process is examined through investigation of both verbal and nonverbal communication and interaction patterns. (LH)

This research examined the hypothesized interaction between sex and interpersonal relationship by comparing the actual self-disclosures made to best friends and strangers by male and female subjects. It was hypothesized that subjects would disclose more to best friends than to strangers, that females would disclose more than males to best friends,…

Encounter groups, in which blacks and whites were brought together to reduce their mutual fear and hatred, are discussed. Major goals of the groups were: (1) to decrease isolation and separation between the races, thereby reducing distorted interracial conceptions; and (2) to help group members feel accepted as fellow human beings by members of…

Any physiological process which can be monitored in some way may provide biofeedback, which can range from galvanic skin resistance to electroencephalograph (EEG) alpha feedback. Biofeedback techniques have several implications and applications for research in both intrapersonal and interpersonal communication. Both EEG alpha and electromyograph…

This paper reports on the effects of four forms of kinesic communication and three forms of verbal communication on leadership perception in a small group setting. Forty-eight college age discussants were observed in groups of four during twelve 30-minute sessions. Permitted only visual input, eleven previously trained observers recorded four…

This "position statement" concerns the relevance and utility of laboratory training techniques in facilitating group problem-solving participation. Neither the sensitivity nor T-group experiences should be assumed a priori to be applicable to problem-solving activity. The article compares the various group experiences on five major…