In a peer evaluation system, faculty and residents have regular small group conferences to review each other's performance. Physicians, residents, and nurses participate in the discussion when controversy or disagreement arises. In addition to having an educational function, the conference system promotes collegial relationships. Didacticism is…

General curriculum emphases on behavioral science in the first- and second-year dental curriculum culminate in a course on doctor-patient relationships, preparatory to clinic activity. The course includes discussion and essay quizzes about videotape recordings of typical doctor-patient encounters. Topics and issues included are outlined. (MSE)

Offers a conceptualization of support groups, differentiating them from counseling and psychotherapy groups. Discusses implications for group formation, membership, and format. Support groups can be relevant to both remedially and developmentally oriented helping efforts, as surrogate support systems for persons who have experienced support loss.…

Examines effects of communication apprehension (fear of talking) on participation in small groups. Reviews literature on communication apprehension, presents information regarding high communication apprehension generated from three in-depth group interviews with identified high apprehensives, and discusses the implications and applications for…

A course is described that focuses on concepts and dynamics of family life cycle relating to medical practice, including the relationship of cycle stages to onset, development, and treatment of illness, transition points in the cycle, the role of stress, and the risk for illness among family members. (Author/MSE)

Research on 50 project groups in a large corporation's research and development facility examined the effect of group longevity and project characteristics on internal and external communication and project performance. Results indicate that projects became increasingly isolated, adversely affecting technical performance the longer project members…

In describing the just community approach to moral education developed at Cluster alternative high school, the author focuses on the setting of collective norms and relationships between these norms and Kohlberg's moral development stages. He finds this approach to moral education to be more comprehensive than the moral discussion approach. (SJL)

The relationship between interaction and achievement in cooperative small groups was studied in four junior high school mathematics classrooms. The interaction variable that related most strongly to achievement was asking a question and receiving no response; this type of interaction was negatively related to achievement. (Author/BW)

Attempts to clarify the epistemological basis of interaction analysis by exploring the modes of observation researchers adopt when using interaction coding schemes and outlining the validation requirements these options entail. Modes of observation include the viewpoint of the experiencer, the process of experiencing, and what is experienced. (JAC)

Summarizes research on the relationship of congruence conformity to status. Included are field studies of informal small groups, psychotherapy groups, formal groups and organizations, and election of politicians. Examines implications of the exemplar hypothesis stating high-status group members are closer than others to group ideals. (RC)

The causes of homicides committed against Blacks by Blacks are examined. Major preventive measures are said to be equal opportunity, better jobs, reduction of racial discrimination, elimination of organized crime, removal of drugs from community, and better schools. (JCD)

Presents both logical and empirical evidence to illustrate that the conventional scoring algorithm for ranking tasks significantly underestimates the initial level of group ability and that Slevin's alternative scoring algorithm significantly overestimates the initial level of ability. Presents a modification of Slevin's algorithm which authors…

Study circles, sponsored by government subsidy in Denmark and Sweden, are characterized by small group discussion of subjects of common interest, voluntary participation, and facilitators instead of teachers. They have often functioned in the formation of public policy and in the education of citizens on important issues. (SK)

Proposes a typology promoting a conceptual model that addresses the increased demand for use of group processes, continued effectiveness of leadership training programs, research issues regarding basic group dynamics, and generic models designed for the increased understanding of the myriad of group forms across the group spectrum. (Author)

Responses of pupils in 60 sixth-grade classes in Sweden to a 40-item questionnaire were factor analyzed at two levels of aggregation, classes and pupils-within-classes. Relations between personality variables and the attitude scales were also studied and implications for personality measurement drawn. (Author/SJL)