The purpose of this paper was to measure small groups at various stages of their development and observe the effects of changes in group process on emergence of role types and the impact these roles have on group membership as a whole. Most small group measuring instruments have been built around a task-leader or socio-emotional leader dichotomy.…

This student published, quarterly journal is a forum for student thought on contemporary issues in rhetoric and communication. This issue focuses on the "Political Rhetoric of Our Times." The articles in this issue focus on the following topics: application of fantasy themes to individual role identification in the small group setting;…

This study examines the viability of time limit as an independent variable for investigating the decision-making process. Three major aspects of time and decision making are investigated: (1) time and accuracy of group decision, (2) time and member satisfaction with the group decision, and (3) time and perceived accuracy of group decision. A pilot…

There are three senses in which all persuasion is political: (1) persuasion seeks to restructure the organization of power; (2) persuasion itself is an exercise of power; and (3) all morally significant human conduct includes political dimensions. The comprehension of political events in dramatic terms is the burden of the author's thesis in this…

This manual was designed for second grade children learning in small groups under an open classroom approach in which leadership and active participation are encouraged. It was intended especially for bilingual classrooms where children have a good opportunity to learn a second language from one another. Some instructions appear in Spanish…

Seeking to help language teachers improve their public relations programs, the author analyzes fundamental principles of public relations and communications theory. Discussion centers on group dynamics and communications, differences between public relations and teaching, the importance of the message, and market analysis. Teachers are advised on…

This study investigated the basic question of whether there is actually measurable change in personality characteristics occurring during or subsequent to the encounter group experience. The study examined instruments which may prove useful in the detection of change in an objective and quantifiable mode which can be subjected to statistical…

This paper discusses the growing recognition that the personalities and life experiences of group leaders are important factors in their effectiveness. Leaders should be warm, empathetic, responsive, understand individual and group behavior, give feedback, be trusted and accepted. Life experiences and personal development are important for the…

This paper develops a conceptual framework for identifying organizational change and applies the framework to understanding organizational change. The main focus of the framework is the concept of "leading parts." Leading parts may be dominant or catalytic in their impact on systems; and understanding their operation requires analysis of the…

Synectics is a method of creative problem solving through the use of metaphor and apparent irrelevancy developed by William J. J. Gordon. The process involves rational knowledge of the problem to be solved, irrational improvisations that lead to fertile associations creating new approaches to the problem, and euphoric state that is essential in…

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…

Administrators and supervisory personnel (N=20) of a hospital participated in a workshop in "Creative Management". Participants received eight hours of training in: creative thinking and problem-solving; leadership and group dynamics; and motivation. Comparisons of pre- and posttest ratings revealed gains in both the Leadership and Total Test…

The results of this study indicated the extent to which the group structure of a sixth grade class was dependent on personality characteristics in the formation of acceptance and rejection patterns. (RC)

This last in a three-part series gives ground rules and examples for guiding the dynamics of various kinds of career groups. (Author)

Suggestions are given for making inservice training more practically effective.