HOMEOSTASIS THEORY OF SMALL GROUPS 8: LONGITUDINAL STUDY
Abstract
A longitudinal study of six groups of females is reported. Six hypotheses developed from a homeostatic conception of small groups were studied over time. As expected, the outcome variables - adaptability, group need satisfaction (G.N.S.), and formal achievement (F.A) - maintained considerable stability during pre-disturbance group sessions. Communications variables, however, showed some volatibility prior to and during both the induced minor and major disturbance. The minor disturbances (addition of another female of the same status to the group) tended to change the kinds of communication (proportions of Bales general categories of communication) that occurred in the group more than the communication activity level of the group, which in turn tended to be more affected than the pattern of communication in the group. Some evidence of homeostatic readjustments in these variables in post-disturbance sessions was found, as well as some tendency for these new levels to be maintained in some few cases. It is also clear from these data that when a more severed disturbance occurred (entry of a higher status person into the group) groups high in G.N.S. and F.A. adapted more adequately to the more severe disturbance than groups that were moderate in G.N.S. and F.A., who in turn adapted more adequately than groups that were low in G.N.S. and F.A.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0402892
Entities
People
- Bernard P. Indik
- John Tyler
Organizations
- Rutgers University–New Brunswick