Examines effective leadership strategies for promoting positive group experiences on outdoor trips by recognizing diversity and people's fears about diversity and by encouraging participants to express their perspectives and wants. Presents examples from Woodswomen, an adventure program that offers wilderness trips for women. (SV)

Effective interaction is as important in inservice education programs for language teachers as it is in the foreign language classroom. Techniques are described for improving the quality of interaction in teacher workshops through simulation exercises. (MSE)

Reviews the literature on the selection of members for and the composition of psychotherapy groups. Discusses viewpoints on inclusion-exclusion criteria as well as theories on group composition. (Author)

Analyzed contrasting assumptions of three theoretical orientations used to explain mixed-sex small group interaction through observation of two mixed-sex, human relations training groups of undergraduate students (N=45). Found no support for sex-role differentiation or adaptation orientations but did find support for role-status expectation…

The collaborative five-phase process of an action research team's two-year project in a New Hampshire junior high school is described. This qualitative study sheds light on team experiences, developmental phases, interpersonal tasks/issues, group processes, outcomes, and staff-development experiences. Team meetings/projects create an outlet for…

Traces the author's experiences in a Eurocentric graduate training program relative to institutional pressures, cultural conflict, interactionism, and U.S. racism. Concludes that experiences caused an intellectual shift to viewpoint of a marginal Black sociologist who focuses upon the experiences and history of persons of African descent in the…

Examines the "social interaction" of older adults as a communication phenomenon which influences self-concept. Explores older adult group processes, and gives specific applications of group methods. Suggests the importance of assessing and applying communication constructs to research on detection and prevention of social isolation through formal…

A discussion of law school curriculum reform focuses on the essential role of the process in achieving change and the development of faculty consensus, the key to successful approval and implementation. (MSE)

Investigates intergroup bias in achievement attributions in a sample of 15-year-old German and Turkish pupils in the Federal Republic of Germany. Found that ingroup attribution bias was limited rather than ubiquitous. Discusses the inventive nature of student explanations for ability-linked performance and the motivational consequences of causal…

Focuses upon group processes in order to assess the relationships among group composition, interactive processes, and pupil understanding when a cooperative decision-making task is attempted. Reports the nature of discussion in three broad group types and the relationship of this dialogue to pupil understanding. Suggests other related issues for…

The development and continuing functioning of a hospital-based parent support group are described, illustrating the dynamics of parents sharing their experiences with having hospitalized children. The paper discusses the group's focus on the family rather than the disease, commonalities shared by families, and this approach's contribution to…

Results from a 4-year study tracking creative problem-solving success rates among 952 managers in 8-person teams (4 planners and 4 implementers) are reported. Coordination of subteam role (task) with Kirton Adaption Innovation Inventory (KAI) type significantly increased group success rates, while placing KAI types outside their preferred roles…

Presents a classroom version of a popular television game designed to provide students with practice in listening comprehension and speaking as well as an opportunity to review numbers and names of objects in Spanish. (Author/CK)

A technique used in college instruction to improve the contribution of individual members to a small working group of students is described. The approach addresses two common problems: (1) resolution of conflicts and (2) dealing with nonperforming group members. Students interview prospective partners and form their own groups, then report on the…

Relations between friendship and group acceptance were examined by assessing multiple dimensions of adolescents' (n=77) peer relationships at summer camp. Results indicated distinctions should be made between friendships and group acceptance and between positive and negative aspects of peer relationships. Both types of relationships are important…