DAP is the acronym for a set of concepts and procedures that the members of any group can employ to refine their problemsolving skills and bring them to bear on real-life, day-to-day group needs. Based on a particular view of human beings, communication, and the process of inquiry, DAP involves the members of a group in generating and using three kinds of information: designative (D) about the "what is" state of some one or some thing; appraisive (A) about "what is preferred"; and prescriptive (P) that suggests what to do when discrepancies can be identified between "what is" and "what is preferred". As group members generate and use these three kinds of information, they move systematically through three different phases of the problemsolving process. They begin by identifying their individual and common problems clearly and specifically. They then develop plans or prescriptions for dealing with the most critical of these common problems; and they complete the cycle of problemsolving by implementing their plans, monitoring effects, and evaluating their success as joint problemsolving systems. The major interest of DAP is in finding ways to eliminate or reduce unnecessary and pointless conflict, misunderstanding, and frustration. (Author)