Concludes that in the laboratory, participants' conversation behavior is not discernably affected by videotaping, no matter how overt or obvious the taping procedure is. Study focuses on behaviors out of conscious awareness: gestures, head nods, speaking turns, self or object manipulations, and shifts to reclining posture or to forward lean. (PD)

Mothers and fathers of 43 middle-class families were observed interacting separately during a paper-folding task with either their only or middle child in order to assess parental use of evaluation and task-facilitative behaviors with preschoolers. Results indicate that parent behaviors vary with parent gender, child gender, and family…

Written transcripts of spouses' discussions were coded using two different systems. Findings indicate that the results obtained from one coding system cannot easily be compared with results obtained from the other system. Author calls for resolution of differences in coding procedures if relational communication research is to be usefully…

Describes a model for communication training in bargaining and negotiation skills. The model was designed for enforcement officers who collect delinquent taxes but can be adapted for clients in other public and private organizations. (PD)

Findings suggest that peers' ratings of behavior of coparticipants in small, interpersonally oriented groups might yield valid data on how accepting the participants were of both others and self. An instrument designed to assess both self-acceptance and the acceptance of others in small groups was used to measure personality. (Author)

Reports two investigations of the effects of rater's race (Black v White) on observed interactions across Black and White families. (CM)

Examines the effect of changes in the social and motor capabilities of infants on their daily social encounters. Home observations were made of the social interactions of 14 infants and their mothers when the infants were 6, 8, and 12 months of age. (CM)

Presents an analysis of the control techniques adopted by the mothers of 15- and 24-month-old children during an eight-minute laboratory play situation. Mothers were requested to take an active role in the interaction by ensuring that the child played with the full range of toys available. (JMB)

Identifies three sociological dimensions that constrain the selection, production, interpretation, and reporting of verbally manipulative behaviors; discusses two texts illustrating the dimensions; and examines some problems of conceptualization and measurement. (FL)

The study investigated the developmental effects of social reinforcement on the interview behavior of 58 mildly intellectually handicapped children (mean age 11.8 years). Findings indicated a feedback rather than a reward model explained the effects of social reinforcement on eye contact. No evidence was found for significant variations in eye…

Advocates at least a modicum of counselor structure for effective group functioning. Helping the group define goals and set limits provides the membership with a sense of purpose and assists individuals toward the achievement of those goals. (Author)

Mother-son dyads interacted with the Interpersonal Game Test. Various patterns of interacting were identified and some differences in mother-son interactions seemed related to aggression/withdrawal in children. Potential advantages of this procedure over more conventional procedures for assessing family interactions were discussed. (Author/BEF)

Presents a theoretical account of how speakers interpret that which is taken for granted in messages. Discusses research concerning enthymemes, argument theory, indirect speech acts, conversational maxims, pragmatic implication and other areas. Provides a framework for a model of how speakers interpret unspoken portions of utterances. (JMF)

Results indicated that observers familiar with a communicator's truthful behavior were more accurate in detecting deception than those who were not familiar, and that accuracy increased as self-monitoring increased. (High self-monitors are individuals particularly sensitive to the expression and self-presentation of others in social situations.)…

Examines the use of rules-based communication during problematic situations, that is, the use of talk centering on the appropriateness of particular conduct in particular contexts. Discusses the use and implications of remediation, or rule application, and legislation, or rule creation, in problematic situations. (JMF)