Children's experiences of empowerment in relation to preschool peers and in child-adult interactions were studied, involving 25 four- to six-year-olds from four Swedish preschools. Group interviews using puppets comprised pre-constructed scenarios to examine preschools' activities. Children took photos of indoor and outdoor preschool environments,…

This paper deals with the ways in which minority students in the Danish public school system bring mono-lingually based norms into their poly-lingual peer group interaction. In sequential micro-analyses of interaction we show how the students use the voice of an authority in their reproduction and negotiation of linguistic norms. We base our…

This study examined the public behavior between adults and children in 557 groups and evaluated the effects of group size, number of children (16 years of age and younger), and number of adults on the cross-age interactions. For a 10-second period, all social interactions between members of a group were recorded using an unobtrusive observational…

In a group of 20 severely to profoundly mentally retarded adults, an interactional dominance hierarchy was obtained by observing the frequency of patient contacts, the duration of contact, and the frequency of contact initiation. It was found that 17 of the 20 patients studied displayed territorial behavior. (Author)

Taking a Rogerian approach, hypothesizing that groups develop through patterns similar to individuals' and that group maturity fosters excellence in learning, the authors offer criteria for analyzing group processes which may be translated into appropriate evaluative devices. One such device currently being used by adult educators is illustrated.…

A study was conducted to examine patterns of information processing over time in self-analytic groups. Communication patterns in two 25-member groups of college students that met for 32 50-minute sessions were categorized by means of the Systems Information Processing Analysis (SIPA) category system. Messages were coded on four dimensions of…

A study examined variation in code choice in the same speakers in two contrasting situations--interorganizational and intraorganizational bargaining. Naturalistic interactions between teams of teacher's union bargaining agents, role-playing teachers, and school board members in the two settings were coded, using measures of structural and lexical…

An instructor cannot expect thirty learners to participate immediately in "meaningful dialogue" without opportunities to lessen their anxiety by testing group norms, sharing expectations, and developing a sense of membership. The article offers an alternative to the aristocratic learning experience in the context of a hospital inservice job…

A computer-based group decision support system (GDSS) to increase collaborative group productivity and creativity is explained. Various roles for the computer are identified, and implementation of GDSS systems at the University of Mississippi and International Business Machines are described. The GDSS is seen as fostering productivity through…

The Communication Role Assessment Measure (CRAM) is an application of role theory to organizational communication. Using a communication-based taxonomy, CRAM was developed to integrate previous research in the field and to assess the following elements: the amount of time spent by members of an organization in selected communication roles; their…

"Sensitivity Training and Group Encounter" attempts to explore group interaction on many levels--verbal, sensory, and physical. It can be utilized as a model for dealing with various forms of interpersonal relations, from ongoing social issues to the isolation, alienation, and distrust felt by the members of a group. Presented as a guide to this…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 18 titles deal with a variety of topics, including the following: a comparison of mother/child and father/child interactions; state anxiety responses in high and low speech anxious subjects; variables that predict listening…