This guide presents suggestions to committee chairpersons for making meetings more effective. The three broad sections of this guide address: (1) preparation of the agenda and physical arrangements for the meeting; (2) management of meetings to avoid negative outcomes; and (3) methods to overcome blocks in conflict resolution and decision making.…

The validity of an automated experimental system incorporating a computer mediator for resolving conflicting requests to speak among four-member problem-solving teams was assessed. Learning how to use problem-solving strategies was affected by this new method for facilitating participation in dialogue. Strategy learning among shy and assertive…

This paper presents a realistic assessment of the pressures and problems facing college deans. Deans are in the position of having to deal with their faculty on one hand and the university administration on the other, placing them in the position of balancing interests and interpreting positions between two groups who often do not understand each…

Intended for use by teachers who are concerned with making effective responses to conflict in the classroom, this booklet describes the nature of adolescent conflict and the differences between conflict, competition, and cooperation. The theory section of this work analyzes some of the major concepts and research findings emphasized in the study…

Stages of moral reasoning through which children develop, as researched by developmental psychologists Jean Piaget and Lawrence Kohlberg, are outlined in the introduction of this paper. The six stages are defined and exemplified by the moral issue of the value of human life. The developmental model, as it is argued, is suitable for instruction in…

Ninety-six males participated in four-man teams involved in a complex decision making task. Subteams with differing functions but equal rank were established. Subteams either were or were not physically separated during the tasks. Group cohesiveness was not effected, but subteam task satisfaction differences were greatest when subteams remained…

A lesson involving a housing project location game develops students' skills in analysis, decision making, and oral and written communication. (Author/AV)

Pupils in the school-class setting need to become proficient in the area of problem solving. Individuals presently and in the future must be able to identify relevant problems and work in the direction of seeking related solutions. (Author)

A La Crosse (Wisconsin) board member describes the long and difficult manner in which the school board rose from the conflict of having a major board recall, eight new superintendents in four years, and serious personnel problems to reach a position in which the board and school became effective again. (MD)

Describes a student mediator program developed in elementary schools in San Francisco and New York City that successfully trains students to mediate conflict resolutions between students. A key to developing such programs is to educate the students in how the system works before getting into the process. Includes a resource list. (MD)

Potential correlates were investigated to discover variables that identify or discriminate among good and poor solvers of simulated teaching problems, thereby aiding preservice and inservice teacher selection. (MB)

The dynamics of a diverse work force characterized by organizational change, competition, and complex communication are increasing attention toward finding new ways of avoiding the costly and destructive outcomes of relationship dysfunctions. Litigation and legal negotiation are two of the most expensive ways of conflict resolution; and…

Concern about violence in schools has resulted in numerous conflict resolution and peer mediation programs being implemented, though there is very little research examining their effectiveness. The exception is the Teaching Students to be Peacemakers program, which teaches students to be peacemakers in five steps: learning what is and what is not…

This study examined the outcomes of student conflict mediation at two urban middle schools in California. Data collection involved observations, interviews, and instrumentation with the Mediation Rating Profile (C. Carter, 1998), and a writing prompt. Several mediation agreements contained avoidance resolutions, such as "stay away from each…

Argues that since desired social development is at least an implicit aim of educational institutions, it is necessary for teachers to be instructed in the art of social problem solving including emphasis on self management, cognitive dissonance, affiliation, power parity and behavioral modification. (Author/JM)