This investigation tested the hypothesis that the probabilistic structure underlying psychotherapy interviews is Markovian. The "goodness of fit" of a first-order Markov chain model to actual therapy interviews was assessed using a x squared test of homogeneity, and by generating by Monte Carlo methods empirical sampling distributions of…

Behaviors described by the instrument were grouped into categories related to developing text material, pre-lab, laboratory, and post-lab discussion. Judges' ratings were used to select behaviors which could be designated as (1) consistent with ESCP, (2) neutral, or (3) inconsistent with ESCP. Classroom observations based on the instrument were…

Described are the procedures whereby data from teachers and children may be collected in classrooms. The techniques of interaction analysis (including matrix analysis) are applied to the collection and analysis of these data. The categories applied to the classroom behaviors of teachers and students have been developed specifically for the Science…

Twelve experimental groups were organized using ability and mutually positive attitudes among the three members of each group as criteria. Mutually positive attitudes were defined as group cohesiveness. Three different interaction patterns--competitive, competitive-supportive, and supportive--were established through instructions read to the…

Investigated were whether differences exist in the verbal behavior of effective and less effective secondary school biology teachers. From a population of 29 biology teachers a sample of five effective and five less effective biology teachers was selected. Effectiveness was determined by a teacher's combined score on the Teacher Rating Scale,…

This paper discusses the concept and definition of social power as it relates to an understanding of social behavior at all levels. The author attempts to differentiate power situations in which the flow of influence is primarily unilateral from an identifiable source to a target, from those in which there is a more dynamic give-and-take between…

The purpose of this paper is to suggest a comparative morphology of groups which would be applicable to the whole of social scientific research. The key to the morphological classes suggested is not a focus on the group system itself but on its relationship with the next higher system--the group system's environment. The information exchange…

One hundred twenty tape recorded psychotherapy sessions representing early, middle, and late interviews with 20 clients were studied. Clients were divided into successful (N-10) and unsuccessful outcome (N-10) groups on the basis of clinicians' ratings of pre- and post-MMPI data. Raters scored the response units of clients and therapists and…

A classroom observation procedure for recording and quantifying complex, sequential interactions between subject and teacher or peers has been developed. Two instruments, used in tandem, test hypotheses concerning the consistency of the subject's interactions. The Sequential Record, which is used to record observation, is analyzed for repetitious…

The use of Kruskal's nonmetric multidimensional scaling model for analysis of classroom interaction data is discussed. Four distance models are proposed which lead to multidimensional representation of single sequences, sets of sequences, and behavior categories using symmetric and conditional proximity options of the model. Results of application…

The Instrument for Analysis of Science Teaching (IAST) was developed as a 26-category system of interaction analysis. Following conceptualization and several research studies, the IAST was redeveloped with 14 basic categories (IAST Base) and an expanded 32-categories version (LAST v.2) which is based on subdividing the IAST Base categories. In…

One approach to the problem of analyzing classroom interaction by use of a Markoff chain is presented. The two sections of the paper present (1) a discusion of Hoel's test of order of a Markoff chain, and a Likelihood Ratio Criterion (LRC) for a two-dependent Markoff chain is given, and (2) a discussion of possible adjustments of Darwin's LRC with…

This study examines how group size affects power structure. Elementary conditions under which human interaction generally occurs constrain power to equalize as the length of the interaction sequence increases and to polarize as the size of the group increases. (Author/DE)

Studies the effects of evidence in persuasive communication and suggests that the nature of the communication topic may be significantly related to evidence effectiveness and the attitude change process. (MH)