The foolishness of preaching

Journal of Religion and Health -     

The application of computer systems to research in experimental social psychology

The application of a laboratory computer system to research in experimental social psychology is discussed. An experiment designed to study the nonverbal communication patterns in humans is discussed with special emphasis on the automation of data collecting and data scoring procedures through the utilization of programs written for an Apple II computer system.     

Evaluating sermons: The function of grades in teaching preaching

What are grades doing in a homiletics classroom? This article traces the function of grades through the broader history of the educational system in the United States and then makes suggestions for how grades can be used more effectively in teaching preaching. Beginning in the nineteenth century, teachers used grades to rank and motivate students, as well as communicate across institutions. With the more recent assessment movement, educators have conceptualized grading as the larger process of evaluating the success of learning objectives. The commission on accreditation for the Association of Theological Schools does not view grades as part of its assessment, but it evaluates theological schools on whether they achieve intended learning outcomes. Theological educators need to be able to evaluate whether their teaching fulfills their schools' mission and learning objectives. For homiletics, the author measures learning through pre‐ and post‐preaching feedback and incorporates professor‐ and student‐crafted rubrics.     

The application of self psychology principles to long-term group therapy with schizophrenic inpatients

Concepts derived from a self psychology model are applied to an intensive long-term group therapy with hospitalized chronic schizophrenic patients. The clinical data suggest that initially patients' needs for safety and security predominate group process. Once an atmosphere of safety has been developed, patients begin to display needs for recognition and confirmation of themselves as unique, worthwhile individuals and for solace and consolation in regard to their traumatic life histories. A case study of the development of two group members reveals that these patients progressed from unshared, isolated, sometimes delusional visions of reality to the sharing of playful fantasies within the group and finally to an acknowledgement of painful life experiences. In their relationship with each other the patients moved from mutual isolation to a primitive relationship based on unconditional support, admiration and togetherness to a friendship in which they became increasingly able to confront each other with empathic failures and tolerate one another's separateness without withdrawal or decompensation.