Medical and non-medical group mental health approaches are discussed. In the medical approach groups are set up for the treatment of the psychopathology of the members and group therapy or group psychotherapy methods are utilized. The clients are selected by the therapist who determines what kind of group would be most beneficial for the patient.…

The Community-School Relations Workshop was designed to bring about improved relations between school personnel and the community that the school serves. This was done by bringing together parents, students, community representatives and school personnel in order to discuss the educational problems they share and to seek their solution. It was…

This paper reports on the history, rationale, procedures, and results of a 4-day meeting of 96 administrators, from two large school systems, who represented all levels of administration. The report sets forth participant attitudes toward specific parts of the 4-day event and indicates some of the outcomes of the meeting that were reflected in…

Effective family problem solving was studied in 97 families of elementary-school-aged children with definite- and indefinite-solution tasks. Incentive and task independence were manipulated. It was found that definitions of effective problem solving based on directly observed measures of group interaction were more valid than definitions based on…

Describes an introductory geology course for non-science majors that focuses on problem solving and group dynamics at The Ohio State University. Reviews its format and contents and compares it with other course options for non-science majors. Includes evaluative comments and provides a listing of group studies project topics. (ML)

A small-group method of teaching mathematical models and methods in a Scottish technological institute uses team teaching and emphasizes the student's role in peer evaluation and group problem solving. (MSE)

The enhancement of positive self-concept has been identified as a key benefit of participation in team-building programs. This paper reviews research on the impact of team-building activities that include demanding physical challenges on the self-concept of physical education students. Team Building through Physical Challenges (TBPC) is a program…

Found that of five "task-achievement functions" examined, two serve as accurate predictors of group problem-solving effectiveness. Specifically, found that (1) a negative relationship exists between group effectiveness and attempts to "establish operating procedures"; and (2) a positive relationship exists between group…

The case method (creation and resolution of hypothetical problems) provides students with an opportunity to use proper problem solving techniques. As the teacher's role is indirect, responsibility for learning is placed on the student. The merits, limitations, and various applications of this technique are discussed. (JN)

Investigated effects on group member satisfaction and communication behavior when male and female leaders either maintained or lost reward power during problem-solving sessions. Found group member communication was more substantive and positive when leaders maintained reward power than when they lost it; communication behavior was also affected by…

Describes the mechanics of group work in the college mathematics classroom specifically group formation, preliminary class work, class and group discourse, individual and group assignments, and impact on test taking. Includes examples from a first-semester calculus course. (JJK)

Describes a study that investigated the activities of engineering students working on a collaborative design project in a distributed multimedia environment. Topics discussed include learning as a social process; face-to-face and video communication; problem-solving techniques; use of interactive media; the construction of knowledge; and group…

This study used F. Fiedler's task structure analysis to probe emergence and maintenance of leadership in groups of gifted secondary students (N=122) engaged in unstructured, creative production. Results are discussed in terms of relationships between group perceptions of leadership effectiveness, group product creativity, and leadership style…

Examines the presence of two factors, cooperative learning training and problem-solving computer-based instruction (CBI), in 23 studies which compared cooperative CBI (C-CBI) and individual CBI (I-CBI). Results provide more evidence that cooperative learning and problem-solving CBIs are important factors in increasing achievement, group…