Integrating new knowledge about group dynamics, this text provides conceptual and experiential frameworks for instructors, trainers and consultants who work with groups, as well as for group members themselves.

Using an approach that blends theory and applications, the authors of this group communications text continue to emphasize the importance of evaluating group dynamics in their varied contexts. The importance of the ethical responsibilities of a group are emphasized, and the analysis of small group decision-making processes, both as a non-participant and as an active member of the group using the participant-analyst model and more formal instruments, is encouraged. There is also comprehensive coverage of conflict management, showing the sources, functional benefits, and means to control conflict (ch. 10). The use of real life examples of group communication throughout the text helps students easily transfer principles and concepts to their own situations. In the third edition, adopters will find expanded coverage of group culture and group norms, as well as listening as it relates to group success and leadership; up-to-date information on focus groups and teleconferencing; and expanded advice on conducting library research.

The study of group communication has never been more critical, as recent national and international events point to the fragility of group life. An emerging perspective, the bona fide group perspective, offers hope for improving group communication, for it recognizes that any group--a family, community group, expedition team, social support group, organizational work group, interorganizational collaboration, or international team--must be studied and understood within the multiple contexts in which it is embedded and that significantly affects who is considered to be part of a group, what occurs within that group, and how that group interacts with other groups. In the second edition of his award-winning volume, editor Lawrence R. Frey showcases original research studies conducted on and about communication in bona fide groups, demonstrating the conceptual promise of the bona fide group perspective as realized in research practice. Divided into six sections, the chapters cover a wide range of new or relatively understudied groups--including youth community groups, Internet support groups, climbing expedition groups, families, neighborhoods, and school boards--and demonstrate the wealth of methodological approaches that can be used to study bona fide group communication--including survey methods, interviews, textual analysis, content analysis, participant observation, and discourse analysis. Group Communication in Context: Studies of Bona Fide Groups, Second Edition shows that the bona fide group perspective has the power to transform our thinking about groups and group communication and, in time, the practices in which groups and group members engage. The volume is intended for use in group communication courses, as well as a reference for group scholars. It is also appropriate for classes in psychology, social work, counseling, sociology, anthropology, and related disciplines.

Comprises the work of scholars who gathered in May, 1998, at a conference held at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business Administration. This title includes articles that address particular macro aspects of team context and their influences on team process and effectiveness and ultimately their effectiveness as performing units.

Focused on understanding the key underlying group processes that contribute to youth sport experiences, The Power of Groups in Youth Sport provides an innovative and expansive overview of the research in group dynamics within youth sports. The first section of the book examines topics relating to forming and structuring groups, including team selection, athlete socialization, normative expectations, roles, coach and athlete leadership, social identity, and more. The second section reviews concepts associated with group functioning and management, such as cohesion, subgroups, motivational climate, teamwork, and team building. This book concludes with a series of chapters focused on specific developmental considerations in youth sports that are often overlooked in group dynamics research including parental involvement, bullying and hazing, mental health, ,and disability and accessibility. Synthesizes the research of group dynamics within the context of youth sport Highlights how groups form and function Discusses the role of parents and peers on youth sport experiences and development Suggests ways to advance the field of group dynamics in youth sports