SEQUENTIAL STRUCTURE IN HUMAN SOCIAL COMMUNICATION1

Interaction matrices showing two act sequences from studies of discussion groups, teacher classroom behavior, speech therapy sessions, and policecivilian telephone calls were analyzed using the information theory statistic to obtain estimates of distributional and sequential predictability. Data from 10 studies were analyzed, and the results showed the relative sequential structure ranging from 3.8 to 29.8 percent. Predictability due to distribution of acts ranged from 3.4 to 41.9 percent. Flow chart diagrams were developed showing the sequence generating processes for discussion groups and classroom interaction. The effects of category system design, interactant roles, task logic, and the number of actors on both sequential and distributional predictability are discussed.     

THE IMPACT OF ORGANIZATIONAL TRAINING LABORATORIES UPON THE EFFECTIVENESS AND INTERACTION OF ONGOING WORK GROUPS

The impact upon four work groups (N= 31) which participated in organizational training laboratory sessions is evaluated in comparison with eight similar groups (N= 60) which did not participate. Criteria were six-factored dimensions, each composed of items gathered from earlier interviews which group members perceived as problems. Significant changes occurred in training groups in the following three dimensions: group effectiveness, mutual influence, and personal involvement. No significant changes occurred in leader approachability, intragroup trust, or in the evaluation of group meetings. The relevance of a work unit participating in training as a total group, rather than each member participating in a separate session, is discussed.     

AN ENCOUNTER GROUP AND CHANGES IN COUNSELORS' VALUES1

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of encounter group treatment on the values and value systems of 24 employment service counselors. A time series own control design was used. Treatment consisted of 27 hours in encounter groups over a three-week period. Thirty-six value rankings were obtained before and after treatment, and again six months later. There was greater change in instrumental than terminal values during and after treatment. Contrary to expectation, personal and conservative values became more important than social and liberal values after treatment. Most value changes during treatment did not persist six months later.     

THE INTERACTION OF BIASES IN THE EVALUATION OF MANAGERS IN SINGAPORE

In this study, independent samples from the same population responded to three simulated situations in which sex and other independent variables were manipulated. In the first two cases, discriminatory decisions against women managers by male respondents were clearly discerned. However, in the third case where sex as an independent variable interacted with developmental potential, the pattern of evaluative decisions changed. A high-potential female was treated as favourably as a high-potential male while the low-potential male received the lowest selection rate from the male respondents. While the finding is not altogether surprising in a meritocratic society like Singapore, the study points to the need to explore the interactive effects which sex bias may have with other attitudes in a specific social context.     

A STUDY OF SOCIAL IDENTITY IN THREE ETHNIC GROUPS IN INDIA

The present study examined social identity under three frames of reference, self, own group and outgroups, in three ethnic groups in India, High Caste Hindus, Muslims and Scheduled Castes. Fifty subjects for each group (with a total of 150 subjects) between the ages of 13 to 18 years were randomly selected from a rural district of Uttar Pradesh. Data were collected using a 24 adjective checklist and analyzed using ANOVA and t tests. The results indicated considerable similarity in social identity of High Caste and Muslim subjects. In both groups a strong sense of positive social identity was found. The Scheduled Caste, however, displayed a marked negative social identity in relation to the two other ethnic groups. The findings were examined in relation to existing intergoup relations theory and interplay of specific subcultural experiences.     

A STOCHASTIC ANALYSIS OF COMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT IN SELF-ANALYTIC GROUPS

The purpose of this research was to examine patterns of information-processing over time in self-analytic groups. The communication in two groups was categorized by means of the Systems Information Processing Analysis (SIPA) category system. Messages were coded on four dimensions of information-processing: (1) source of information, (2) time orientation, (3) evolution of information, and (4) reduction of equivocality. The sequence of coded messages was then compared with a first-order Markov chain model. The results indicate the communication data from the groups are first-order; the groups are nonhomogeneous; stereotypy (predictability of patterns) is low to moderately high across the four dimensions; patterns in the evolution of information dimension are stationary over time. Patterns in the three other SIPA dimensions are nonstationary (time dependent) and suggest nonlinear changes. The information-processing patterns in the groups indicate that most information was spontaneously generated within the groups; the predominate time orientation was “present”; the form of message generally was either neutral opinion or new information; and moderate to moderately high uncertainty existed over time.     

DEGREE OF CONSTRUCTED-RESPONSE INTERACTION IN COMPUTER-BASED PROGRAMMED INSTRUCTION

This investigation evaluated the importance of frequent responding in computer-based programmed instruction. Instructional computer programs that taught the use of an authoring language were administered to 155 undergraduate college students. One group experienced frequent (dense) situations requiring them to supply key components of the subject taught. A second group experienced half as many response requirements, and a third “passive” group simply tapped any key to progress. To control for time in contact with presentations, individuals in a fourth group were yoked to the members of the high-density requirement group. Statistically significant differences on both posttest and application performances indicated that students who experienced the high density of overt response contingencies scored the best and the passive group score the worst. The yoked control revealed that time on task alone could not account for the superior performance of students in the high-density group. Results suggest that inclusion of a high rate of constructed-response contingencies within instructional computer programs increases performance.     

AN EXPLORATION OF COMMUNICATION AND PRODUCTIVITY IN REAL BRAINSTORMING GROUPS

This study analyzed the performance of individuals in real brainstorming groups in an attempt to determine the relationship between individual ideational output, perceptions of status within the group, and communication apprehension. Results of a multiple discriminant analysis suggest that persons who are high producers of ideas perceive fewer status differences among group members, perceive themselves as high status group members and are less apprehensive as communicators than those persons low in productivity. The linear combination of discriminating variables was able to successfully classify over 75% of the subjects into their actual output group.     

观察不同形状和颜色时眼运动的顺序性

实验使用EVM3200型眼动仪测量被试在观察四种不同形状和四种不同颜色时眼运动轨迹的特点,来研究人眼运动的顺序性。结果表明：人眼在观察不同形状和颜色时,眼运动具有时间序列和空间序列的特性;形状和颜色一样具有诱目性序列特征;眼运动凝视点受到刺激所处空间位置的明显影响;首次凝视点是研究眼运动的重要变量。     

自由讨论条件下群体决策质量的影响因素

通过实验室实验考察了自由讨论条件下群体决策质量的影响因素,并对Stasser所提出的信息取样模型进行了验证,结果发现：(1)部分证实Stasser的信息取样模型。在信息不分享的条件下,如果讨论前群体成员的偏好比较一致时,群体的确倾向于讨论分享信息和群体所偏好的候选人的信息;但如果讨论前的偏好不一致或任务难度较低时,这一结论难以成立。(2)自由讨论条件下,群体规模的增加会增加分享信息的讨论量,而对非分享信息的讨论程度则无显著影响。而在任务难度方面,只有任务难度较大的情况下才有分享信息的讨论优势。     

ENCOUNTER WITH NEUROBIOLOGY: THE RESPONSE OF RITUAL STUDIES

Abstract. Knowledge of the working of the brain is of prime importance to anthropologists studying ritual and symbol. The play between the neocortical hemispheres can be inferred from the varying styles at different stages of ritual: one can begin to hypothesize archetypes for general processes such as self-healing social dramas that are at the roots of ritual: the concept of preparedness as a genetic endowment residing in the brain appears to confirm the fundamental importance of image making; while the shamanic skills of inhibition and disinhibition, releasing latent religious powers, can be grasped for what they are.     

模拟情境中工作团队成员互动过程的初步研究及其测量

团队已经成为当今许多组织中的主要工作方式。已有文献虽然表明工作团队成员之间的互动对于团队工作绩效有显著的影响,但却缺乏测量团队成员互动的量表。本研究在了解影响团队绩效的互动因素基础上,编制出一个测量工作团队互动过程的量表。该测验将团队互动分为结构和人际两个维度,分别包括五个和四个题目。测验具有很好的信度和效度,符合心理测量学的标准,可用作测量团队互动的工具。     

DEGREES AND DIMENSIONS OF SOCIAL INTERACTION IN TRIBAL GROUPINGS

On a administré un inventaire de quinze questions sociométriques à onze groupes d'élèves d'écoles primaires et secondaires, d'une école d'instituteurs, et d'une école pour jeunes mineurs de la region minière (Copperbelt) de Zambie (N = 274). Les choix ont été analysés en prenant l'origine tribale comme base de classification pour les groupements dans les classes et pour tous les répondants. l'origine tribale représente une catégorie importante pour l'interaction sociale à l'intérieur des groupes institutionnels quand la distance est grande. Les dimensions de l'inventaire, que fait apparaître une analyse factorielle basée sur les groupements par tribu des répondants, suivent trois axes et pourraient correspondre à l'autorité (leadership) dans un système institutionnel, l'acceptation par les pairs et l'origine ethnique. l'A. discute de ces résultats en se référant à d'autres recherches sur la distance sociale et montre quelles modifications de la théorie traditionnelle ils suggèrent.     

SEQUENTIAL APPLICATION OF MAJOR HABIT-REVERSAL COMPONENTS TO TREAT MOTOR TICS IN CHILDREN

In this study, we sequentially administered up to four components of the habit-reversal treatment to 4 children with motor tics within a multiple baseline design. The habit-reversal components included (a) awareness training; (b) awareness training and self-monitoring; (c) awareness training, self-monitoring, and social support; and (d) awareness training, social support, and the use of a competing response. Results demonstrated that the combined use of awareness training, social support, and competing response training was effective in eliminating motor tics in 2 of 4 children, that awareness training alone was effective for 1 child, and that a combination of awareness training and self-monitoring was effective for the 4th child. The treatment and ensuing improvement were found to be socially valid. We discuss possible explanations for these results and recommend directions for future research.     

THE STRUCTURE OF JUSTIFICATION IN POLITICAL CONSTRUCTIVISM

Abstract: In this article the author develops the view, held by some, that political constructivism is best interpreted as a pragmatic enterprise aiming to solve political problems. He argues that this interpretation's structure of justification is best conceived in terms of two separate investigations—one develops a normative solution to a particular political problem by working up into a coherent whole certain moral conceptions of persons and society; and the other is an empirically based analysis of the political problem. The author argues that the empirically based analysis can generate criteria for assessing whether the normative theory successfully works out a solution, thereby developing a functionalist structure of justification. He further argues that this interpretation overcomes a longstanding criticism of constructivism, namely, that the use of substantive moral concepts in the hypothetical choice procedure biases the defense of principles in a particular direction and therefore begs important philosophical questions.