Loosely coupled educational organizations exhibit structural similarities to preliterate societies in their lack of formal leadership and control. The identification of social outsiders as "witches" to explain disasters affecting preliterate societies may have its counterpart in educational organizations when nonconformists are…

An integration of the concepts of situational leadership with what is known about group development and functioning of work groups is discussed as a tool in helping managers, trainers, and group members understand group development and determine the appropriate leader behaviors to use in various situations to build unified, cohesive, and…

A factor analysis of Fiedler's Least Preferred Co-Worker (LPC) Scale and measure of situational control produced eight factors. Several factors failed to demonstrate internal consistency upon replication. Argues that the LPC and situational control measure are more complex than generally assumed. Suggests further attention to operational…

Deals with women working in the higher echelons of organizational hierarchies. Discusses why training programs aimed at women only are more beneficial to women than mixed participation. Examines women's minority position, effects of traditional stereotypes, group dynamics, problems women encounter in the workplace, and management education. (CT)

Examined sequential dependencies in solitary and interactive states of social organization as a function of age, sex, and type of toy in 12 triads of 3 1/2- and 5-year-old children. Each triad was observed during two 30-minute sessions, one in which objects with highly specific functions were available and one in which objects with relatively…

The redesign of a course on 'Learning' and some of the issues involved are examined. The problems and opportunities associated with group heterogeneity, and the problem of assessing co-operative assignments, and student perceptions of the teaching/learning processes experienced are discussed. (Author/MLW)

Psychology texts, dating from 1940, are examined to assess the impact of Raymond B. Cattell's work on the fields of social psychology and group dynamics. Factors contributing to his surprising lack of influence, including difficulties with the complexity, terminology, and independent nature of his work and personality, are discussed. (BS)

Strongly confirmed the hypothesis that groups employing an interacting decision procedure would produce better decisions than groups employing procedures that are either nominal (Delphi) or "staticized" (individual judgments statistically pooled). Provides clear and consistent support for the value of social interaction in small group…

Examined whether gender composition and task structure affect communicative behavior in small groups. Groups with different numbers of men and women were given a highly structured assignment and a human relations case study. Interaction process analysis supported the hypothesis only for dominance acts of giving suggestions. (BH)

Describes an exercise called "Building Blocks' that demonstrates the risky shift and polarization effects of small group discussion. (PD)

Discusses Radio Learning Group (RLG) Campaigns, in which groups meet weekly with a trained leader, listen to radio programs, read study materials, and discuss the issues. Describes in detail the operational workshop held in Swaziland to train the leaders of the RLG Campaign. (SK)

Intergroup cooperation and competition were compared to determine if they promoted systematic differences in interaction between majority and minority students. Results indicated that the intergroup cooperation condition produced increased numbers of cross-ethnic relationships. (Author/DF)

Describes a memorable year in the life of a high school drama coach and his 17-member acting troupe. (RBW)

Investigated theme development and role types in eight same-sex, self-analytic groups with male or female leadership, through the use of The General Inquirer, a computerized program of content analysis. All groups, male and female, showed a significant increase in the use of AFFILIATION words over time. (BH)

Suggests that work groups of helping professionals may identify with, rather than empathize with, their clients, and then replicate these parallel difficulties at the systems level. Presents a model for administrators to use in understanding sources of organizational stalemate and planning appropriate interventions, illustrated by a case study.…