This paper describes the structure of a superintendent network in each of two western states (Washington and Idaho); what the networks look like; and how superintendent attributes such as age, ethnicity, gender, salary, years of experience, and size of school district influence the network. The study further compares similarities and differences…

One of the most valuable skills in group decision making is the ability to make trustworthy judgments about group performance. It follows from the "inferential model" of social cognition (Pavitt, 1989; Pavitt & Hight, 1986), that there are three types of judgments relevant to the group context: (1) behavioral (what the group did);…

In brainstorming a group attempts to find a solution for a specific problem by amassing all the ideas spontaneously contributed by members. Brainstorming is recommended when the generation of ideas will be beneficial to the solution of problems. Four fundamental rules of brainstorming include: (1) criticism is not allowed during the thinking…

These workshop exercises are designed to review the more effective techniques parents can use to comfortably discipline their children. Seven basic principles of discipline are discussed briefly. The principles are: (1) tell children what they can do instead of what they can not do, (2) protect and preserve children's feelings that they are…

Participants in the Dad's Day at the Center for Young Children program meet on Saturday mornings for a series of 12 sessions which combine play and discussion group activities. The first hour of each session is structured so that fathers and their 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old children can spend time together experiencing new toys, foods, arts, and games…

Suggestions to help create and maintain effective classroom discussion are offered, and strengths and weaknesses of this approach are identified. Discussion is defined as a variety of teaching approaches that focus on two-way, spoken communication between the teacher and the students, and more importantly among the students themselves (e.g.,…

Uniqueness theory suggests that individuals are most comfortable with the thought that they are moderately different or unique from others. To test whether individuals with a high need for uniqueness are perceived as being different from those with a low need for uniqueness, 144 college students participated in a two-part study. In part one,…

Habermas's theory of dialogue was used to evaluate the process of decision making that occurred in a labor-management committee's meeting to discuss flextime. The study attempted to determine why, at that meeting, the committee's consensus process of decision making failed. W.R. Bion's theory of unconscious group motives was also used to…

This science column includes background information, discussion questions, science activities, writing activities, and a bibliography on a different topic each month. The titles of the five installments included in this compilation are: (1) "Chameleons and Other Quick-Change Artists"; (2) "Niagara Falls and Other Super…

Six question and answer exchanges between a teacher and a student were analyzed to illustrate teachers' intuitive practical knowledge of questioning skills. It is suggested that this knowledge of questioning techniques is systematic and organized and that the teacher draws intuitively from a systematic framework of questioning patterns. A theory…

Since the early 1980s the evolution of computer mediated communications (CMC) systems designed to support collaborative work has been characterized by two trends. One is the proliferation of new systems to take advantage of technological changes; the second is the incorporation of functionality into highly specialized or tailored application…

Drawing from observations of discussion in 24 different classrooms, this book will provide preservice and inservice teachers at the middle and school levels with the motivation and knowledge to use discussion to foster student comprehension of content area text assignments. The first chapter examines the distinctions between discussion and…

The use of informal group settings such as kaffeekranzchen for the maintenance of German language and culture among adult speakers is reported. Regular bimonthly kaffeekranzchen were held by a native German speaker at the suggestion of several German-Texan women, ranging in age from 40 to 79, who were interested in polishing and maintaining their…

A white administrator of an expanding social welfare agency shares some of the problems and successes in overcoming racial prejudice within himself and among his staff members. (CS)

Reports on a series of discussion sessions held with three groups of fathers at the University of Washington's Child Development Center, which offered a mutually supportive atmosphere so fathers could share concerns and feelings about their children and at the same time, obtain appropriate information and guidance. (CS)