Presents conceptual model of group decision-making process that identifies essential factors and processes that impact upon group decisions. Integrates concepts from various academic disciplines to provide theoretical framework for research generation and to organize and synthesize past and future research findings in effort to establish…

As teachers, administrators, and community members move from a district curriculum management system to a school-based model and from an isolated, private teacher planning format to a collaborative forum for curriculum deliberations, participants will need new perspectives and skills for analyzing the new practices. This article provides this…

Investigates how leadership dynamics of the computer-supported group work of student project teams contributed to the teams' choices and uses of technology. Finds that powerful individuals--experts and advocates--determined how the groups used technology to support their group writing. (RS)

Examined effects of a structured learning time interval (SLTI) in growth groups on member self-esteem, perceived level of group interaction, and verbal participation in 81 undergraduate college students. Found use of SLTI had no significant effect on self-esteem, perceived interaction, or verbal participation. (Author/ABL)

Discusses working with groups of cancer patients and the psychological problems of these persons. Discusses these issues for group work in cancer treatment: support; sharing feelings; building coping skills; information and education; and existential considerations. Discusses nature of participation, leadership, and membership considerations in…

Discusses a sibling support group for 7-13-year-old siblings of developmentally delayed children. Describes group sessions and family responses to the program. (RJC)

A successful approach to improving a residency training program in internal medicine had residents, attending physicians, and administrators use a consensus-building method to develop problem lists ranked by two criteria (high importance and high potential for solution), for which short- and long-term management interventions were created. (MSE)

Examined applicability of Bednar, Melnick, and Kaul's model of early group development to college student self-help groups using undergraduates (N=101) who met in high-structure or low-structure groups. Found amount of group structure was positively related to ownership of group functioning; importance of performing group behaviors was positively…

Describes components of Anytown, a group model designed to promote direct, intergroup contact and to increase racial tolerance among high school students. Examines dynamics of Anytown program: how activities are intended to affect participants' thinking and relationships with others and how direct contact is used to promote favorable human rights…

Results of research in a fifth grade classroom on the characteristics of leaders emerging in four different small group situations found that student leaders (for both verbal and nonverbal activities) tended to be the most verbal students with the most ideas. (DB)

This article explores the dynamics of a creative problem solving meeting which frequently reaches impasse. Excerpts from the meeting transcript are presented to determine where and why the group gets off track in developing a method to evaluate sales training. Suggestions are offered for steering the group away from win/lose arguments and into…

Investigates the nature of small-group social interactions in the mediation of children's science learning. Reports that the teacher mediated the children's small-group science learning through discourse that negotiated children's status, actions, and meaning, as well as through discourse that established the normative structure of the small…

"Altering the normal flow" is the statement in Larry Lezotte's article (in same issue) that best describes changes in Illinois school district. Although district was well run when new superintendent took over, its internal change process geared toward learning for all proved more challenging than cooperating to pass a tax referendum.…

Describes how the introduction of cooperative learning principles improved peer interaction during group work among preservice teachers in an undergraduate content area reading course. (SR)

Treatment programs for delinquent youth often develop negative youth subcultures that sabotage the formal treatment efforts of adults. Students exercising peer authority can manufacture and then escalate minor incidents into major confrontations. Staff who are unaware of the dynamics of the conflict can inadvertently be lured into the battle. (JPS)