In a group of 20 severely to profoundly mentally retarded adults, an interactional dominance hierarchy was obtained by observing the frequency of patient contacts, the duration of contact, and the frequency of contact initiation. It was found that 17 of the 20 patients studied displayed territorial behavior. (Author)

Incidents of pledges' injury or death as a result of fraternity hazing warrant formal investigation by individual institutions. Survey results and personal interviews at Mississippi State University suggest that hazing exists. Institutions should reevaluate their policies on hazing. (NRB)

Results of this study indicate that self-knowledge theory can be used to establish guidelines for processing structured experiences. Guidelines include assessing the stage of participants using the Experience Recall Test, and utilizing questions associated with stages in sequence. (Author/BEF)

Analyzes and compares the communication process within effective and ineffective decision-making groups to identify specific behaviors and patterns of communicative behaviors which consistently discriminate between them. Results suggest that effective decision-making groups spend more time interacting and agreeing upon procedural matters than do…

The modeling of group experience analogues (or the vicarious observation of such analogues) is by itself ineffective for enhancing attraction to group experiences. Changes were enhanced and of longer duration when modeling was accompanied by social reinforcement of desired behavior. (Author)

Analyses of the children's communication patterns revealed that LD children were less likely to disagree with classmates, less likely to try to argue for their choices, and more likely to agree with their peers. (Author)

A study to determine whether a relationship existed between team size and various attitudinal and performance variables in simulation games played by undergraduate business students indicated that group size had no impact on the group's performance, but that it was strongly related to the amount of dissension in the group. (LLS)

Group gestalt therapy in which the leader facilitates the development of helping capacity in group members is described. The general characteristics of this approach are discussed and ground rules concerning leader and member behaviors are suggested. (RC)

Criticizes the variable analytic approach to small group communication currently being used by many social science researchers and suggests some alternative ways of doing research based on a human action perspective. (JMF)

Some of the features of social play in mixed-aged dyads composed of three- and five-year-old children are explored. Suggestions for further study of social interaction among children are discussed. (Author/MC)

Sociometric analysis, using job similarity, task influence, and work interaction instruments, can be used to collect and feed back information for better understanding of the functioning of specific organizations. (JD)

A report is given on an investigation of communication competence of first graders as evidenced in their use of requests for action and information. (JD)

Effective classroom teaching and learning about grief involve didactic instruction and the group dynamics of personal involvement. An appreciation of the individuality of the grieving must be incorporated. Verbatim excerpts from a workshop on helping the bereaved are included. (Author)

An investigation of the verbal "following behaviors" of 245 third-grade children indicated that selected role-taking groups of children chose, or were chosen by the teacher, to talk following the verbal contributions of certain role groups of children while avoiding talk following the contributions of other role groups. (Author/DS)

Studies communication techniques of small groups engaged in producing multimedia messages. Indicates that the quality of the product, measured by audience evaluation, is affected by characteristics of the leader's communication, openness of the group's communication system, and member participation in group activities. (JMF)