Facilitating successful focus groups requires both science and art. One element that can fully challenge focus group facilitators includes how to handle the unfocused focus group. This article describes "unfocus" and the benefits and disadvantages of unfocus in focus groups. Lessons learned from and approaches taken on this journey are shared to…

Systematic methods are needed for studying group development over time. The method described here permits interpretive description of a group session, useful both for feedback to the group and for further study of group processes. (Author)

The question whether individual study of risk problems (familiarization) leads to greater risk taking was investigated. Several explanations of the risk taking shifts are explicit in their requirement for group or social interaction. Investigations of whether risk shifts can be produced in the absence of group interaction have produced conflicting…

The separation of men's work from a family setting brings about greater female involvement in ties with relatives. Two specific hypotheses about sibling relationships developed from this laterality hypothesis were tested with data from an urban Finnish sample." (Author)

Summarizes research comparing boundaries around larger and smaller groups. Finds that the perception of group boundary permatbility varies with group size. Reports a greater perceived distinction between the group and the individual passerby as group size increases. Describes the effects of varying group member proximity. Discusses implications…

The study presents the results of testing an original obersvation instrument designed to identify a power elite in multiple sessions of two eight-member adult discussion groups. Two questions guided the development of the study: (1) Can a power elite be identified in participation training groups? (2) Can an effective observation instrument with…

THIS BIBLIOGRAPHY OF RESEARCH IN HUMAN RELATIONS TRAINING IS PRESENTED IN TWO SECTIONS. THE FIRST PART INCLUDES AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF RESEARCH CONDUCTED BETWEEN 1947 AND 1960. IT WAS PREPARED BY LEWIS E. DURHAM AND JACK R. GIBB AND CONTAINS 48 CITATIONS. THE SECOND PART, PREPARED BY ERIC S. KNOWLES, INCLUDES RESEARCH SINCE 1960. IT INCLUDES…

A COMPILATION OF 47 SELECTIONS FROM BOOKS, JOURNALS, AND RESEARCH REPORTS IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, THIS BOOK OF READINGS EITHER ABOUT VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS OR WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR THEM IS ADDRESSED TO LEADERS, BOARD MEMBERS, WORKING VOLUNTEERS, AND STAFF MEMBERS OF VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS AND TO BEHAVIORAL SCIENTISTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS…

This paper describes some of the military requirements for an assessment technique with which to estimate the effectiveness of the interactions that occur between military assistance program advisors and their counterparts. An experimental criterion of effectiveness, willingness to work together, is described, and estimates of its validity…