Stander and colleagues, in 1989, noted that change in specialization may be caused by two distinct but potentially complementary processes: (a) a change in group composition, where change in specialization is the product of the attrition of offenders who vary systematically in their tendency to specialize; and (b) a change in the tendency to…

This study attempts to articulate the internal normative structure of sensitivity training groups by identifying the normative patterns that govern member behavior and by examining the relative influence exercised by trainer and member over the establishment and maintenance of group norms. (Author)

The stimulus value of group boundaries was investigated in a field experiment. It was hypothesized that the size of a group and the status of its members would reduce the permeability of a boundary around an interacting group. Two or 4 interacting people of high or low status interrupted the traffic flow in a university hallway. Results indicate…

In this experiment two variables relevant to explaining the social support phenomenon were investigated. Response position of the partner (first vs fourth) and contact between partner and S prior to the group situation (contact vs. no contact) were manipulated. Male and female Ss responded to visual, information, and opinion items in a group…

A stable, ordered dominance hierarchy was found via observational and sociometric methods for a group of 13-year-old boys during a five-week summer camp. This group structure was formed early in camp and was stable across settings, time, and types of dominance interactions. The hierarchy correlated significantly with the rank-orderings bed…

Offers a behavioral definition of a public, demonstrates how the definition can be used by public relations practitioners in researching and analyzing their publics, and reports on a formulative study of a suburban hospital that can serve as a model for public relations practitioners who wish to do similar research. (Author/GW)

This paper analyzes development of group structure in terms of the stimulus-sampling perspective. Learning is the continual sampling of possibilities, with those reinforced possibilities increasing in probability of occurance. This contingency learning approach is tested experimentally. (NG)

Prior theoretical formulations have suggested that client exposure to levels of personal risk and responsibility most conducive to optimal group development can be regulated with group structure. Analysis of variance results indicated the highest frequency of therapeutically relevant behaviors occurred in the high-structure and high-risk-taking…

It is proposed that the sex composition of a group affects the sex-role awareness and sex-related responses of its members, and that such effects can operate even when there is no actual or anticipated verbal interaction among group members. (Author/AM)

Presents literature relevant to initial group structure and advances a model of group development based upon personal construct theory. The proposed model illuminates the relationship between initial structure and the psychological processes underlying group development. Research questions are posited to advance empirical tests of the model. (RC)

Discusses writers, readers, and the enactment of roles in society through the notion of "textual community." Considers the meaning of the term "text" in this context, the problem of reading, and some of the behavioral principles that lie behind personal and group narratives. (JD)

The results support the premise that behavioral change can be initiated by elementary school counselors or school psychologists if they know what kind of behavior they want to change and have a planned procedure for doing it. (Author)

In order for teacher education students to assess children's performance related to environment, data that might influence learning was collected. Relationships emerged between contextual variables as well as between child variables. (RC)

This paper tests four models of the effect of the size of a subgroup of an organization on the proportion of attraction choices made by members of the subgroup that are given to other members of the subgroup. The data base consists of friendship and respect choices made by members of the Maryland State Police force. The four models are: simple…