Discussion and research show that when members of a problem-solving group engage in discussion and reach a consensus, the resultant group decision is either riskier or more cautious than the average of the individual judgments prior to the discussion. The purpose of this paper is to summarize and evaluate various theories concerning this group…

Defines interpersonal communicative behavior as behavior serving to increase immediate feelings of satisfaction, and investigates the relationships between this behavior and self-concepts. (MH)

A conflict resolution exercise has been developed for use in leadership training in small groups. The objectives of the exercise are to provide a decision-making experience in an environment that requires numerous applications of conflict reduction, to enable participants to apply strategies for dealing with specific conflict disruptions that…

Two experiments were conducted which studied seating distance of subjects in a small group discussion situation. In Experiment I groups of three subjects sat on cushions in a bare carpeted room along with a moderator and discussed a socially relevant issue. The distances generated by subjects' placement of their cushions served as the main…

This curriculum guide outlines a course in discussion for college sophomores or those who have taken a communication fundamentals course. This guide emphasizes the principles of discussion and group dynamics and their applications to groups engaged in information-sharing or problem-solving tasks. The course is divided into two principal units with…