Investigates the impact of interpersonal relationships on decision-making success in small groups using a business simulation game as a research vehicle. The study concludes that group decision making may be unfavorably affected by personality conflicts. (Author/JJD)

Describes the Theme Centered Interaction (TCI) Model, which provides a method for residence hall staff to support student development processes. Discusses initiation of the theme, dynamic development, and termination of the group. Residence hall staff can readily be used as facilitators for TCI groups. (JAC)

Elementary school children's definitions of work and play reveal three varieties of play: instrumental play, recreation, and illicit play. Each variety includes elements of both accommodation and resistance. Teachers' reaction to children's play serves to maintain their control of classroom events without banning play entirely from the elementary…

Findings suggest, among others, that argumentativeness is an important variable in the perception of leadership, with the highly argumentative individual chosen leader over the moderate or mildly argumentative individual. Highly argumentative individuals were also rated as more influential on the group's decision. (PD)

Focuses on personality as a predispositional factor which is predictive of the direction of both persuasive argumentation by group members and, subsequently, decision shifting. Tends to validate the value theory of polarization by showing that persuasive argumentation can mediate the effect of personality on decisional shifting. (PD)

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…

Researchers presented 43 administrators at a large midwestern university with 22 hypothetical organizational problems in which authority was absent or unclear, to test models of the effects of contextual factors on insiders' and outsiders' decisions to participate in organizational "political" issues. The results led to revisions of the models.…

Describes a group drawing technique, synallatic collective image therapy, that can be used with families. Discusses the process of family drawing, and illustrates with clinical examples. (Author)

Describes a group treatment program for grown-up abused children. Analyzes the ways in which the effects of abuse influence group process, and how the experience of a group process assists abuse victims. Discusses skills needed by group leaders. (Author/RC)

Recounts the year-long interaction between teachers and teacher consultants during efforts to evaluate student writing, to survey teacher practices, and to survey student attitudes toward writing. (RL)

Describes and explains the classroom group process and group leadership of a sixth-grade teacher in an urban classroom. Discusses the importance of classroom grouping and its implications for teachers. (MLF)

Describes the use of a structural family therapy model as a basis for a school consultation program. Suggests school consultants use an understanding of family systems theory as it relates to classroom "families." Proposes this approach allows flexibility in dealing with student discipline and guidance. (JAC)

Examines a confrontation team-building intervention that was highly successful in building the supervisors into a unified group. Evaluation indicated the team became the most important variable with little consideration given to the rest of the organization, resulting in the whole organization being severely crippled and having to be rebuilt.…

A number of individualized approaches to student learning are reviewed: Keller plan, refined linear model, variable route model, modular learning model, and independent study. Each successive approach offers students an increasingly wider degree of choice to determine goals and the means of achieving them. (Author/MLW)

Studies the sequence of phases in group decision making. Compares the unitary sequence model, which assumes that all groups follow the same sequence of phases, and the multiple sequence model, which assumes that different groups follow different sequences. Results support the latter model and suggest revisions in current decision development. (PD)