The study investigated the effects of structured and unstructured cooperating groups on students' behaviors, discourse and learning in junior high school. One hundred and sixty-four grade 9 students participated in the study. The students were videotaped as they worked in three to four person, mixed-gender and ability groups on a science-based…

Currently, numerous on-line discussion forums have been developed for educational purposes; therefore, a better understanding about peer student discussion or discourse interactions is quite important. Through gathering peer learning interactions on 57 college computer science students, who were randomly assigned into 14 small groups for solving…

Many school principals say that the toughest part of the day is recess. That's because recess is when most trouble starts. When the author asked one principal recently about recess, she promptly rattled off a list of headaches, such as "the teasing, the fights, the bullying, the injuries, the referrals." In this article, the author describes…

Twenty-five groups, each consisting of one superior and three subordinates, participated in a problem-solving exercise to test the hypotheses that subordinates who are exposed to external conflict, in conjunction with their immediate superior, will perceive their immediate superior as more credible and more homophilous than those who are not…

The training program for which these materials have been developed is divided into two parts: the first is general, theoretical, and cognitive; the second is specific, practical, and applied to actual situations. The first part provides a highly structured, non-threatening learning situation, and makes extensive use of set exercises; the second…

Investigated the relationship between scores on the Orientation Inventory (Ori) and overt behavior during a small-group problem-solving activity. A special observation system scored the students' behavior in ten-second time-sampling intervals. Ori scores did not correlate even moderately well with the behavior of the subjects during the…

The centrality of interpersonal trust for effective managerial problem solving was illustrated by inducing either a high-trust or a low-trust mental set in experimental groups. Subjects operating in a high-trust environment were significantly more effective in problem solving. (Author)

EDGE is a flexible group technique that enables participants to express, explain, exchange, and encapsulate their suggestions for creating their corporation's competitive edge. EDGE has two important outcomes: participants become more comfortable with each other and with problem solving, and they acquire small group skills. (JOW)

Reviews research on group problem solving and offers suggestions for improving participation and task accomplishment in the workshop format. (JOW)

Observed college students (N=195) divided according to sex and measures of wittiness to determine the effects of humor on problem solving in groups. Results showed that group composition was not a crucial issue in problem-solving performance, but that humerous group interaction was, and did not interfere with ongoing task performance. (LLL)

A study of 288 hospital employees engaged in problem-solving groups found that previous group problem-solving experience, educational level, work expertise, and problem-solving confidence were the best predictors of self-efficacy. (SK)

Discussion of the role of small group performance focuses on solving problems to improve performance. Types of tasks and their effects on groups are described; group resources are discussed; factors affecting group process are explained; and a flowchart for solving group performance problems is presented. (LRW)