Theories of Small Groups : Interdisciplinary Perspectives

by Marshall Scott Poole

• ISBN13: 9780761930761
• ISBN10: 0761930760
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-10-28
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc

Summary

"Theories of Small Groups: Interdisciplinary Perspectives is a book that will make a significant difference in how those interested in the study of small groups think and pursue inquiry about them. In this impressive collection of original essays, the reader is introduced to nine different perspectives that have guided the development of theories and research concerning the nature of group processes. Drawing on the efforts of numerous scholars with backgrounds in biological and social sciences, editors Scott Poole and Andrea Hollingshead provide a useful vehicle for the emergence of enriched understandings of the behavior of groups, enhancing the integration of such knowledge, and the prospects for substantial increases in genuinely interdisciplinary scholarship." -Dennis S. Gouran, The Pennsylvania State University People live in groups, work in groups, and play in groups. As a result, groups have been a focus of study across the social and behavioral sciences. Although it has been actively pursued within individual disciplines and sub-disciplines, group research as a whole remains fragmented and discipline-bounded. Theories of Small Groups: Interdisciplinary Perspectives brings together the threads that unify the field of group research. The book is designed to define and describe theoretical perspectives on groups and to highlight select research findings within those perspectives. In this text, editors Marshall Scott Poole and Andrea B. Hollingshead capitalize on the theoretical advances made over the last fifty years by integrating models and theories of small groups into a set of nine general theoretical perspectives. Theories of Small Groups is the first book to assess, synthesize, integrate, and evaluate the body of theory and research on small groups across disciplinary boundaries. Key Features Offers an interdisciplinary approach to group research with contributions from authors across many fields Includes nine theoretical perspectives, each written by an author team composed of experts who have conducted independent research within that perspective Organizes chapters in a similar format to easily compare the basic premises and findings examined across the various perspectives covered Concludes with a chapter that compares and contrasts the nine perspectives in the form of seven "touchstones"- boundaries/embeddedness; competition, conflict and interdependence; causality; regulation of interaction; risk/uncertainty; cognition/intentionality, and time Theories of Small Groups summarizes the current state of group theory and research in a brief volume that can be used by researchers and in graduate courses that will train the next generation of group scholars. It is an excellent supplementary textbook for graduate courses on small groups in many disciplines, including Communication, Psychology, Management, Sociology, Political Science, and Education.

Author Biography

Dominic Abrams is Professor of Psychology and Director of the Centre for the Study of Group Processes at the University of Kent Deborah G. Ancona is the Seley Distinguished Professor of Management at the Sloan School of Management at MIT Holly Arrow is a member of both the Psychology Department and the Institute for Cognitive and Decision Sciences at the University of Oregon Jennifer L. Berdahl is Assistant Professor of Management and Psychology at the University of Toronto Dale Brashers is Associate Professor of Speech Communication at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Linnda Caporael is Professor of Science & Technology Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Jennifer R. Considine is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at Texas A&M University Noshir Contractor is Professor of Speech Communication and Psychology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Larry Frey is Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Communication at the University of Colorado at Boulder Janet Fulk is Professor of Communications in the Annenberg School for Communication and Professor of Management & Organization in the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California Charlotte Hemelrijk is Assistant Professor in Theoretical Biology at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands Kelly Bouas Henry is Assistant Professor of Psychology at Missouri Western State College Steve Hinkle was Professor of Psychology at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, until his untimely death on October 19, 2002 Randy Y. Hirokawa is Professor and Chair in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Iowa Michael A. Hogg is an Australian Professorial Fellow at the University of Queensland Karen A. Jehn is Professor of Social and Organizational Psychology at Leiden University, The Netherlands Nancy Katz is Associate Professor of Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University Janice R. Kelly is Professor of Psychology at Purdue University Richard Kettner-Polley is Professor of Management and Dean of Doctoral Programs at Colorado Technical University in Colorado Springs David Lazer is Associate Professor of Public Policy at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University Michael Lovaglia is Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology at the University of Iowa Elizabeth A. Mannix is Professor of Management and Organizations in the Johnson School of Management at Cornell University Joseph E. McGrath is Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Women's Studies at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Poppy Lauretta McLeod is Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio Renee A. Meyers is Professor of Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Celia Moore is a doctoral candidate at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto Richard Moreland is Professor of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, with a secondary appointment in the Katz School of Management Sabine Otten is Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands Paul B. Paulus is Professor and Chair of Psychology at the University of Texas at Arlington Jennifer L. Peterson is Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Randall S. Peterson is Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at London Business School John Rohrbaugh is Professor of Public Administration and Policy and Associate Dean of the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany (SUNY) Charles D. Samuelson is Associate Professor of Psychology and Associate Department Head at Texas A&M University Jane Sell is Professor of Sociology at Texas A&M University Kennon M. Sheldon is Associate Professor of Social/Personality Psychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia Jennifer R. Spoor is a graduate student in Psychology at Purdue University Sunwolf is Assistant Professor of Interpersonal Communication at Santa Clara University Susan Wheelan is President of GDQ Associates, Inc. David Sloan Wilson is Professor of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University Rick K. Wilson is the Herbert S. Autrey Professor of Political Science at Rice University Gwen M. Wittenbaum is Associate Professor of Communication at Michigan State University Kay Yoon is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Speech Communication at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Small Groups	1	(20)
Marshall Scott Poole
Andrea B. Hollingshead
Joseph E. McGrath
Richard Moreland
John Rohrbaugh
A Look at Groups From the Functional Perspective	21	(42)
Andrea B. Hollingshead
Gwen M. Wittenbaum
Paul B. Paulus
Randy Y. Hirokawa
Deborah G. Ancona
Randall S. Peterson
Karen A. Jehn
Kay Yoon
Psychodynamic Perspectives on Small Groups	63	(36)
Poppy Lauretta McLeod
Richard Kettner-Polley
The Social Identity Perspective on Small Groups	99	(40)
Dominic Abrams
Michael A. Hogg
Steve Hinkle
Sabine Otten
Conflict, Power, and Status in Groups	139	(46)
Michael Lovaglia
Elizabeth A. Mannix
Charles D. Samuelson
Jane Sell
Rick K. Wilson
The Symbolic-Interpretive Perspective of Group Life	185	(56)
Larry Frey
Sunwolf
Understanding Groups From a Feminist Perspective	241	(36)
Renee A. Meyers
Jennifer L. Berdahl
Dale Brashers
Jennifer R. Considine
Janice R. Kelly
Celia Moore
Jennifer L. Peterson
Jennifer R. Spoor
The Network Perspective on Small Groups: Theory and Research	277	(36)
Nancy Katz
David Lazer
Holly Arrow
Noshir Contractor
Traces, Trajectories, and Timing: The Temporal Perspective on Groups	313	(56)
Holly Arrow
Kelly Bouas Henry
Marshall Scott Poole
Susan Wheelan
Richard Moreland
Small Groups From an Evolutionary Perspective	369	(28)
Linnda Caporael
David Sloan Wilson
Charlotte Hemelrijk
Kennon M. Sheldon
Touchstones: A Framework for Comparing Premises of Nine Integrative Perspectives on Groups	397	(30)
Janet Fulk
Joseph E. McGrath
Author Index	427	(16)
Subject Index	443
About the Editors	427	(2)
About the Contributors	429