Mental illness constitutes a major hazard to public health. The author advodates the implementation of programs of primary prevention, using the marital enrichment group as a model to follow in promoting mental health and specific protection. (Author)

Results of a national survey indicated the following trends: (a) centers in large, public institutions offer the greatest number and variety of groups; (b) most groups are of an "adequacy-enhancing" rather than of a "problem reduction" nature; and (c) centers subscribe to a developmental rather than remedial model. (Author)

Research indicates that leadership among children is a function of the group and that situations can be manipulated to encourage leadership. Teachers can intervene to influence the development of positive forms of leadership in all children. Three areas for teacher involvement are apparent. Teachers can (1) become more sensitive to their own…

Presented is a directory of 371 hostels and homes provided for the mentally handicapped by local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Entries are listed by county, and sections are divided as to whether they are non-statutory (under private ownership), under local authority, or administered by hospitals. Information on each…

The value of a "miscellany"--prose, poetry, drama, and music centering on a particular theme--staged by secondary students lies in its adaptability. It may be created by and for a group of individuals, with the staging, lighting effects, arrangement of pieces, and grouping of performers all planned to express most effectively the mood or idea of…

This paper proposes a model for the long-term scientific study of encounter, T-, and sensitivity groups. The authors see the need for overcoming major methodological and design inadequacies of such research. They discuss major methodological flaws in group outcome research as including: (1) lack of adequate base rate or pretraining measures; (2)…

Attitudes of 665 adults in a southwestern city toward laws affecting the mentally retarded were measured to guide the selection of group home sites. (Author)

Students and teachers had the opportunity to study informally the unique and threatened environment comprising the reefs off the Florida Keys. While they all were learning about the ocean life, they were also learning something about the process of learning. (Author/RK)

Evaluated the effectiveness of a training group for health care workers (N=5) engaged in learning interpersonal skills. Two research confederates observed and recorded group process. While participants reported a positive experience to the trainer, a negative experience was reported among group members, suggesting the possibility of subject bias.…

Assessed contributions of familiarity, prior experience, and age to frequency and degree of social participation of preschoolers. Normative analysis of group differences indicated that sex, age, prior peer-group experience, and familiarity did not interact and that all of them independently affected 3- and 4-year-old preschoolers' social play.…

Examined whether freshmen living in residence halls achieve higher grades than nonresidence hall students. Compared mean grade point averages (GPA's) earned at the end of freshman year for 1,302 residence hall students and 740 nonresidence hall students. Results showed freshmen in residence halls achieved higher GPA's than nonresidence hall…

Describes study circles as a nonformal, learner-centered approach to education. Discusses the role of the facilitator, group format and function, and raises professional issues that group workers need to consider. (JAC)