The small-group process is discussed in relation to its use as a teaching method; the objections to and advantages of small groups are enumerated, and numerous group interaction diagrams are listed. Also, various exercises and guidelines for successful group application are presented. A final section is devoted to the different kinds of groups and…

Describes the purposes, membership, tasks, and outcomes of two women's organizations in India as a prelude to discussing the characteristics of group processes and strategies for building and improving women's organizations. (SK)

The author describes a technique used in encounter groups, called query, which is action oriented and aims at promoting the self insight of group members. Asking questions of one another and role playing are two major aspects of the technique described. (SE)

Explores the background and rationale of efforts to develop LOGS: a Language of Group Skills which encodes a core of six group competencies in behavioral terms. Joins the organizational development concept of a common language for management to the adult education concept of self-directed learning. (LLL)

Although the origins of self-help groups can be traced back to early history, the self-help movement as we know it today began almost 50 years ago. Approximately 15 million Americans currently belong to about 500,000 different self-help groups. Adults in transition are likely to seek both formal and informal sources of help when faced with…

The qualities of small group communication and interaction were tested in this study, which specifically measured group consensus and the quality of group decision making. Fifty groups of five members each were used. One member of each group was trained to exhibit either high or low "orientation," knowledge of the procedures the group…

The composition of encounter groups changed between 1971 and 1974. Female participants in 1971 reported more hostility and depression than males but by 1974 these differences were reversed. An increase in task orientation was found in both sexes. Emphasized the importance of monitoring changes in group composition. (Author)

Examines which leadership model provides a better explanation of the relationship between leadership behavior and group outcomes--the group leadership influence model or the leaderless group discussion model. Discusses implications for group leadership from a leaderless group discussion perspective based on the findings of a laboratory descriptive…

The basic purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of using trained peers to lead small process groups in freshman orientation. The College and University Environment Scale (CUES) was the basic instrument used to determine whether perceptions of the college campus climate differed after an alternate freshman orientation program.…

This research summary reports on a 4-month long study of 30 children, ages 10-13, who live at the elementary boarding school on the island of 'Ua Pou, Marquesas Island, French Polynesia. Of the sample of 15 boys and 15 girls, 20 of the children are from a single small valley. Follow-up studies also were done of the families of these children. The…

This resource manual presents guidelines and effective techniques for people who want to acquire group facilitation skills. It is a valuable resource for anyone planning or presenting a workshop; trainers or teachers interested in innovative classroom techniques; and anyone involved in a group as leader, facilitator, or participant. The manual…