Org. Studies/Psychology 145: Small Group
Processes
Spring Semester, 2009
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Time:
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:00-1:10 p.m. |
Room:
Avery 204 |
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Professor: Jeff Lewis |
Office: Fletcher 214 |
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Phone: ext. 73069 |
E-mail:
jeff_lewis@pitzer.edu |
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Web Page: http://www.pitzer.edu/~jlewis |
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Office
hours: Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m., Thursdays at 1:30 p.m.,
or by appointment
Texts:
Forsyth, D. R. (2006). Group Dynamics (4th edition).
Goals
of the Course: This course will investigate theories, research
and applications related to the subject of group dynamics. Traditional and contemporary topics will be
discussed, and views from a variety of perspectives will be presented.
Course
Requirements: This course will require the completion of both
in class and outside projects. Grades
will be based on:
Weekly
Demonstration Presentations and Discussion Questions (30%): The readings
are important parts of the class, and to enhance your understanding (as well
as your motivation), you will each be asked to turn in two questions derived
from your weekly assignments. On the
Friday before each class meeting, you will be required to e-mail your questions
to me at the above address. In addition,
you will be asked to occasionally (depending on the size of the class) present
work related to the week's topic or be in charge of a demonstration that highlights
some important aspect of the class material.
Exams
(30%): There will be two take-home exams roughly covering each half of the
course. The questions will cover material
from your readings and class discussion, and all will be drawn from the weekly
discussion question sets.
Group
Project (25%): As part of the course, you will participate in a group
project that involves the analysis of the psychological processes within a
small group. The object of the study
may be any group of people (real or fictitious) that you can observe over
a period of time. You will work with
three or four other students, and all will be responsible for the definition
and presentation of your group's project.
The subject matter of the presentation may include the background of
the group, the direction and nature of communication between members, occurrence
and resolution of conflict within the group, status and power relationships
in the group, etc. Exact specifications
for the project will be given out at a later date, but you should begin to
think about whom you would like to work with and what group might be possible
to study.
Individual
Paper (15%): Along with the project, you will be asked to write a paper
from the point of view of a participant in a group. One of the objectives of this course is learning
to make sense of social interaction while you act as a participant in that
social system. This written assignment
represents an opportunity for you to evaluate the impressions and activities
that occurred in your group as you completed your project. Your paper should include: (a) who were the
members of your group; (b) what problems did you encounter; (c) how were they
solved; and other things that tie in directly with what we discuss in the
course. Further instructions will be
handed out with the project assignment.
Schedule
of Lectures, projects, exams, and assignments
Reading
abbreviations: F #- Forsyth chapter
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DATE
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TOPIC |
READINGS |
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January 20th and 22nd |
Introduction- the nature of group dynamics |
F 1 |
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January 27th and 29th |
How do we study groups? |
F 2 |
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February 3rd and 5th |
Individuals and Groups |
F 3 |
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February 10 and 12th |
Group Formation |
F 4 |
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February 17th and 19th |
Development and Socialization |
F 5 |
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February 24th and 26th |
Group Structure |
F 6 |
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March 3rd and 5th |
Power and Influence - Group
Project proposals due in class |
F 7 & 8 |
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March 10th and 12th |
Performance - Take-Home Exam 1 due in class |
F 9 |
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March 17th & 19th |
SPRING
BREAK |
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March 24th and 26th |
Decision-Making |
F 10 |
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March 31st and April 2nd |
Leadership |
F 11 |
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April 7th and 9th |
Conflict |
F 12 |
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April 14th and 16th |
Intergroup
Relations |
F 13 & 14 |
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April 21st and 23rd |
Collective Behavior and Change |
F 15 & 16 |
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April 28th and 30th |
Group Project finalization | |
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May 5th and 7th |
Final Group Presentations and Wrap-up - Take-Home Exam 2 due in class Group
and Individual papers due in class |
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