Re:Learning, a major national effort to redesign the total school system, is grounded in the belief that school renewal efforts must focus on schooling's primary purpose--to help all students learn to use their minds well. In July and August 1989, 13 focus groups were convened in Colorado for the Education Commission of the States' Re:Learning…

This paper notes that the rapid increase in the number of support groups for older persons and for their caregivers necessitates a look at the role of the professional as a facilitator of support groups. It defines the concepts of social support and support group and then proceeds to describe the dynamics of a suport group. Definitions proposed by…

Recipients of help often show less liking for their helpers than for others who do not provide help, presumably because the recipient is left with feelings of lowered self-esteem and unfulfilled indebtedness to the donor. Three-person interracial teams were presented with a series of problems in the course of managing a simulated business. One was…

Although technology is affecting the way organizations conduct business, there still remains a need to pay attention to good business meeting practices. Based on observations of the meeting practices of a business firm, a consultant found several areas in which meetings can be made more productive. The purpose of the meeting should be defined.…

Males' and females' interaction styles were observed while they worked in four-person, mixed-sex groups on a discussion task. In some groups, members were only given information about each others' names and gender. Under these conditions, males were perceived higher in competence than females. Further, males were found to engage in a greater…

In looking at the forms language takes, linguists sometimes forget to ask the obvious question about the relationship between the forms language uses (phonology and syntax) and the function language is expected to play as a vehicle of communication. Probably the bulk of our daily communication involves the allocation and use of power, the politics…

This monograph identifies literature on human systems developed from the primary constructs of "task" and of "maintenance" or "relationship." It reviews definitions of leadership and team process and the use of the primary constructs in leadership literature and in team process literature. Then, the monograph…

This document is a guide for advisers of student activities. It provides ideas and information, explores alternatives, and answers questions about student activities. The topics are arranged in alphabetical order, with one topic for each of the 26 letters of the alphabet. Topics covered include: attitude, brainstorming, communication, decision…

This document contains guidelines for social workers and other resource persons who are assisting self-help groups. It begins by defining the purpose of the resource person as meeting with group members on a consistent basis to provide information about available resources, offer suggestions and advice when appropriate, answer questions, and offer…

Most sociometric research is based on same-age, mixed-gender classroom groups. By contrast, this study examined eight ad hoc play groups of mixed ages (6 and 7 years) and same gender at three levels of social organization: individual status, mutual dyads, and mutual triads. A total of 96 children in groups of 12 nominated three most- and…

Recent years have been marked by a decline in the quantity and quality of small group research for four reasons: (1) the experimenter is an integral component of the system he or she is studying and thereby influences the findings, (2) layers of group process defy complete analysis, (3) small group research is reflexive, and (4) much of the…

Examines the effectiveness of interpersonal skill training as a function of group size and training duration. Results indicate that group size has a significant effect on the dimension of empathic understanding. (Author/HMV)

A summary of uses of films with children. (CH)

Article surveys various approaches to questions of group interaction as they are affected by the choice of a communications medium. (Author)

A study of a variation on brain-storming problem solving techniques. (CH)