The results of these experiments strongly suggest that the occurrence of behavioral contagion depended on the relative advantage an initiator's action establishes over the other members of the group. (SD)

Presents a brief review of the literature on organizational behavior and on information seeking and comments on the relevance of this literature (which is not primarily directed toward librarians) to librarianship. Leadership and productivity, motivation, and organizational development are discussed. A 40-item reference list is included.…

Dissent is an integral part of human relations, one that can stimulate creative problem solving. Four major strategies for dealing with dissent are power, compromise, consensus, and synergy. (SK)

Describes personal transformation in small groups method that employs Matrix Model as its operational structure in Part I of two-part article. Describes method's reliance on metaphors and nature and manner in which they are employed. Defines personal transformation within framework of analytical psychology. (Author/CM)

Examines process of leave-taking (termination) in terms of social goals and remedial and reciprocal models of group works. Presents typology of termination. Discusses termination reactions and related activity patterns. Notes practice principles of group leaders including timing, leader-member decision making and evaluation, management of…

Analyzed structure of social interaction within four therapy groups in terms of conditional responding of participants. Proposed that groups' interactions would show increasing structure across sessions. Findings showed no consistent pattern of group development, that frequency with which members spoke was inversely related to dominance in group,…

Examined relationship between group members' (N=36) approach to group sessions and group session climate and relationship between length of time in group and agenda quality. Found average ratings of interpersonal and here-and-now dimensions of agendas were significantly related to average perception of group climate as more engaged and less…

Outlines a theory of collective learning based on Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development and on New Social Movements theory. Argues that it is more appropriate than individual learning theories as it describes the relationship between individual and group development and it addresses social justice. (SK)

In adaptive schools, working groups grow, develop, and learn from experience, becoming more effective as they go. Three premises about group development include the following: each group is unique, some groups mature, and attrition need not block development. Four guidelines for successful group meetings include decide who decides, define the…

The Feedback Environment, as opposed to the formal performance appraisal process, is comprised of the daily interactions between members of an organization (Steelman, Levy, & Snell, in press). Relations between the feedback environment and work outcome variables such as Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) were examined through the mediating…

To improve student completion rates in higher education, faculty are using cohort educational models (CEM); however, very few studies were found regarding CEMs effects in educating culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) doctoral students in the field of special education. This study investigated two questions: (a) Are there differences for…

In September 1830 the U.S. government negotiated the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek with some leaders of the Choctaw Nation. The treaty reinforced the congressional Indian Removal Act of 1830, which paved the way for the large-scale physical removal of tens of thousands of tribal people of the southeast, including many of the Choctaw. It provided…

The study of popular culture in the United States is an appropriate anthropological endeavor, as evidenced in a case study of the volcanic eruption of Mt. St. Helens in Oregon. By examining its popular arts, anthropologists gain understanding of the culture and its people. For example, an analysis of reactions to the Mt. St. Helens eruption…

Examines the direction and form of influence processes across levels of hierarchy. Indicates the primacy of downward over upward influence, and supports a basic pattern of relations including the flow of major influence from indicators of group functioning to situational conditions. (Author)