The Study of Small Groups

facing the research reported in the area of small groups between 1967 and 19728 is both impressed by the quantity of data presented and depressed by the general absence of excitement and new theoretical formulations. The area loosely defined as group dynamics has never been characterized by a unifying theoretical position. Psychological Abstracts lists roughly 3400 studies related to groups since the last review by Gerard & Miller (44). A large proportion of this research seems to be following established lines of investigation with little or no concern for external validit y or potential applications. From the point of advanc­ ing the field, it may be that much of this research comes closer to exemplifying a psychological Gresham's Law that "bad research drives out good" than Kurt Lewin's notion that "nothing is so practi cal as a good the ory." Our disenchantment with both the theoretical and the mundane significance of much of the past decade's literature (as well as the pragmatic impossibility of achieving a comprehensive review) has dictated an eclectic and biased approach to our topic. At this time it appears that the questions asked (or unasked) are more intriguing than the answers produced to date. We have, therefore, concen­ trated on approaches where methodology, theoretical impact, or application seem most promising, and have attempted to cite reviews summa rizing research in those areas we have sli ghted. Several recent works of general interest to the student of small groups are worthy of note. The revised edition of Cartwright & Zander (21) remains an excellent general introduction to group dynamics. The second edition of the Handbook of Social Psychology (73) also contains several relevant chapters by Lindzey & Byrne (74), Tagiuri (117), Kelley & Thibaut (67), Collins & Raven (23), and Gibb (45). A work of value to students of groups in isolation and under stress is a National Academy of Science volume, Human Factors in Long Duration Spaceflight (91). METHODOLOGY

[1]  Joel B. Cohen,et al.  The social animal. , 1973 .

[2]  G. Egan Encounter groups: basic readings , 1971 .

[3]  Ecological Aspects of Interpersonal Functioning , 1971 .

[4]  E. Goffman Relations in Public: Microstudies of the Public Order , 1971 .

[5]  EYE-CONTACT AND DISTANCE: A REPLY TO STEPHENSON AND RUTTER , 1970 .

[6]  R. Frager,et al.  Conformity and Anticonformity in Japan. , 1970 .

[7]  J. White,et al.  EYE CONTACT AND OBSERVER BIAS: A RESEARCH NOTE , 1970 .

[8]  Robert Sommer,et al.  Personal space : the behavioral basis of design , 1970 .

[9]  T. Mitchell The construct validity of three dimensions of leadership research. , 1970, The Journal of social psychology.

[10]  Robert B. Zajonc,et al.  Social enhancement and impairment of performance in the cockroach. , 1969 .

[11]  Dean G. Pruitt,et al.  THE RISKY SHIFT IN GROUP BETTING. , 1969 .

[12]  E. P. Willems Risk is a Value , 1969, Psychological reports.

[13]  D. R. Heise Problems in Path Analysis and Causal Inference , 1969 .

[14]  D. C. Glass,et al.  Evaluation apprehension and the social facilitation of dominant and subordinate responses. , 1968, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[15]  Creative Ability of Task‐Oriented Versus Person‐Oriented Leaders , 1968 .

[16]  D. Bem,et al.  Risk and conservatism in group decision-making ☆ , 1968 .

[17]  N. B. Cottrell,et al.  Social facilitation of dominant responses by the presence of an audicence and the mere presence of others. , 1968, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[18]  M. Wallach,et al.  Is risk a value? , 1968, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[19]  J. Hackman Effects of task characteristics on group products , 1968 .

[20]  N. B. Cottrell,et al.  The presence of an audience and list type (competitional or noncompetitional) as joint determinants of performance in paired-associates learning. , 1967, Journal of personality.

[21]  R. Meade An experimental study of leadership in India. , 1967, The Journal of social psychology.

[22]  B. Tuckman Group composition and group performance of structured and unstructured tasks , 1967 .

[23]  D. Thistlethwaite,et al.  Effects of familiarization and group discussion upon risk taking. , 1967, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[24]  C. Morris Task effects on group interaction. , 1966, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[25]  N. Bateson Familiarization, group discussion, and risk taking , 1966 .

[26]  L. R. Hoffman Group Problem Solving1 , 1965 .

[27]  H. Guetzkow,et al.  A social psychology of group processes for decision-making , 1964 .

[28]  S. Schachter The Interaction of Cognitive and Physiological Determinants of Emotional State , 1964 .

[29]  S. Milgram BEHAVIORAL STUDY OF OBEDIENCE. , 1963, Journal of abnormal psychology.

[30]  S. Fiske,et al.  The Handbook of Social Psychology , 1935 .