This required Portfolio assignment that will give
you experience observing and interacting with people outside of the classroom.
It has been designed to provide you with the opportunity to develop skills,
synthesize knowledge, and integrate learning in a real world setting.
This assignment accomplishes that goal by challenging you to:
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Observe a group discussing a topic of interest such as a focus group, a
community public assembly, a department meeting at your workplace, or local
support group
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Study how the group members interact and impact one another
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Analyze how the group behaviors and communication patterns influence social
facilitation
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Integrate your findings with evidence-based literature from journal articles,
textbook, and additional scholarly sources
Purpose: To provide you with an opportunity to
experience a group setting and analyze how the presence of others substantially
influences the behaviors of its members through social facilitation.
Process: You will participate as a guest at an
interest group meeting in your community to gather data for a qualitative
research paper. Once you have located an interest group, contact stakeholders
and explain the purpose of your inquiry. After you receive permission to
participate, you will schedule a date to attend the meeting; at which time you
will observe the members and document the following for your
analysis:
Part I
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How were the people arranged in the physical environment (layout of room and
seating arrangement)?
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What is the composition of the group, in terms of number of people, ages, sex,
ethnicity, etc.?
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What are the group purpose, mission, and goals?
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What is the duration of the group (short, long-term)? Explain.
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Did the group structure its discussion around an agenda, program, rules of
order, etc.?
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Describe the structure of the group. How is the group organized?
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Who are the primary facilitators of the group?
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What subject or issues did the group members examine during the meeting?
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What types of information did members exchange in their group?
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What were the group’s norms, roles, status hierarchy, or communication
patterns?
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What communication patterns illustrated if the group was unified or fragmented?
Explain.
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Did the members share a sense of identity with one another (characteristics of
the group-similarities, interests, philosophy, etc.)?
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Was there any indication that members might be vulnerable to Groupthink? Why or
why not?
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In your opinion, how did the collective group behaviors influence individual
attitudes and the group’s effectiveness? Provide your overall analysis.
Part II
Write a 1,200- to 1,500-word paper incorporating
your analysis with evidence to substantiate your conclusion. Explain how your
observations relate to research studies on norm formation, group norms,
conformity, and/or social influence. Integrate your findings with literature
from the textbook, peer-reviewed journal articles, and additional scholarly
sources. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Use at least
two references in your writing.
