Group Processes
Chapter 8 - Group Process
THIS CHAPTER WILL DISCUSS:
1. What group discussion "functions" are.
2. How interactional researchers study group process.
3. Whether group process relates to group output.
4. Whether group discussion consists of a series of sequential states.
INTRODUCTION
In Chapter 1 we examined the concept of "perspectives." As we explained, scientists approach an object they wish to study with a particular viewpoint, or perspective. Each perspective suggests distinct questions for the scientist.
Further, with small-group research, it is best to approach different areas of study from the viewpoints of particular perspectives. For example, we can study conflict from any perspective; but to examine conflict in the most profitable way, we based our discussion in this book on the relational perspective. Similarly, it is perhaps best to approach topics such as conformity and deviance from the structural viewpoint. Equally, much of what we covered in our chapter on cohesiveness came from the two psychological perspectives.
In this chapter, our topic is the process of communication in decision-making groups. How can we best approach this topic? The theories and research studies that we will describe relate to two viewpoints that are variants of perspectives that we defined in Chapter 1.
The first viewpoint, the functional approach, is a variant of the structural perspective. We will use this approach when we discuss theories and studies that relate to the functions that communication plays in group discussion.
The second viewpoint, the interactional approach, is a variant of the relational perspective. We will use this approach when we examine theories and research that concern the way group discussion becomes patterned in repetitive sequences over time.
In the following sections, we will discuss many examples of scientific work on group process, both from the functional and the interactional approaches.
THE FUNCTIONAL APPROACH
THIS CHAPTER WILL DISCUSS:
1. What group discussion "functions" are.
2. How interactional researchers study group process.
3. Whether group process relates to group output.
4. Whether group discussion consists of a series of sequential states.
INTRODUCTION
In Chapter 1 we examined the concept of "perspectives." As we explained, scientists approach an object they wish to study with a particular viewpoint, or perspective. Each perspective suggests distinct questions for the scientist.
Further, with small-group research, it is best to approach different areas of study from the viewpoints of particular perspectives. For example, we can study conflict from any perspective; but to examine conflict in the most profitable way, we based our discussion in this book on the relational perspective. Similarly, it is perhaps best to approach topics such as conformity and deviance from the structural viewpoint. Equally, much of what we covered in our chapter on cohesiveness came from the two psychological perspectives.
In this chapter, our topic is the process of communication in decision-making groups. How can we best approach this topic? The theories and research studies that we will describe relate to two viewpoints that are variants of perspectives that we defined in Chapter 1.
The first viewpoint, the functional approach, is a variant of the structural perspective. We will use this approach when we discuss theories and studies that relate to the functions that communication plays in group discussion.
The second viewpoint, the interactional approach, is a variant of the relational perspective. We will use this approach when we examine theories and research that concern the way group discussion becomes patterned in repetitive sequences over time.
In the following sections, we will discuss many examples of scientific work on group process, both from the functional and the interactional approaches.
THE FUNCTIONAL APPROACH