For some time, cultural anthropologists have attempted to explain regularities of behavior in large groups (nations, tribes, etc.) through a series of studies generally known as "national character" or "modal personality" studies. The investigation reported here attempts to adapt the "modal personality" approach to…

The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the nature of group work through a series of thirteen video taped classroom lessons for fourth grade students. Using a case approach technique, the emphasis was on methodological problems. The study showed that even the investigation of a single mode of instruction such as group work is a highly…

Recent investigations of the effects on group output of competitive contingencies, reward deliveries to group members contingent upon achieving a higher or lower task rate than another group, have suggested that competitive contingencies are a positive function of group output. When rewards are contingent upon a higher comparison outcome, group…

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBLE INFLUENCES OF ORGANIZATIONAL CLIMATE AND ITS ELEMENTS (AS DEPICTED BY THE CENTRAL OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVE PERFORMANCE TEAMS IN SELECTED SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF THE STATE OF OHIO) ON THE INNOVATIVENESS OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE "ORGANIZATIONAL CLIMATE DESCRIPTIVE QUESTIONNAIRE," WHICH SERVED AS THE…

In order to study the effects of cognitive style, task structure, and task setting on student achievement and attitudes, structured and unstructured tasks were presented to students in both group and individual settings. It was postulated that through small group and individual activities an individual may display his/her best cognitive style of…

A review of the literature on cooperative, competitive, and independent reward structures and performance is presented, and conclusions are drawn which reformulate current beliefs about the interaction between reward structure and task structure. A brief theory of reward structure and performance is described, and conditions under which…

This manual is intended primarily for use by small groups that must accomplish tasks within specified periods of time. Chapters, directed toward groups in business, industry, education, religious organizations, politics, government, or virtually any situation where a cooperative effort is required, discuss the following areas: group work as…

Strain theory, which is widely criticized, presumes a negative relationship between social class and delinquency. The theory is strengthened with the following variables added to the analysis: (1) grade level, (2) social status, (3) achievement, (4) absences and dropout frequency, and (5) tracking. The paradigm of collective behavior may also be…

Student activities programs are usually dependent on teams of students and advisers. Theory, potential outcomes, basic steps, and resources for team-building are introduced, and improving output potential, basic steps in team-building, and giving and receiving feedback are discussed. (MLW)

Research in educational administration needs a coherent empirical base for a comprehensive, ecologically valid theory of administration. This paper describes Roger Barker's Behavior Setting Theory and promotes it as a broad-based conceptual framework for research on educational administration. (Author/TE)

Many children with emotional and behavioural difficulties behave well in a one-to-one situation with an adult. It is when they are in a group with their peers that their behaviour deteriorates dramatically. The more teachers understand about group dynamics, the better equipped they will be to support children who find such skills as turn-taking…

The social and collective aspect in human activities has become one of the main issues in Vygotskian analyses of learning and development. The study assumed that this aspect presupposes some feeling of belonging together and having a shared commitment on the part of the participants. Asserting that relatively little attention has been given to…