Topic: Small-Group Discussion (3)

10-second review: Roles in Working with Small Groups: Familiarizing and Practicing Roles

Title: “Small-Group Discussion.” Raymond Stopper. Xlibris, 2004, pp. 299-303.

To familiarize students with these roles, Litsey suggests having students view a video tape of a group discussion. Each student in the class is assigned to observe one of the members of the group. After viewing the discussion, the students fill out the following evaluation form:

Name of Rater …………………. Name of Participant …………………

Directions: Circle the number which you think most closely approximates the extent to which the ‘ratee” has been each of the following.

(1) Not at all (2) A little bit (3) To some extent (4) Fairly Much (5) A Great Deal

Initiating 1 2 3 4 5

Information Seeking 1 2 3 4 5

Information Giving 1 2 3 4 5

Clarifying, Elaborating 1 2 3 4 5

Summarizing 1 2 3 4 5

Consensus Testing 1 2 3 4 5

Encouraging 1 2 3 4 5

Expressing Group Feelings 1 2 3 4 5

Harmonizing 1 2 3 4 5

Compromising 1 2 3 4 5

Gate Keeping 1 2 3 4 5

Setting Standards 1 2 3 4 5

Blocking 1 2 3 4 5

Aggressiveness 1 2 3 4 5

Seeking Recognition 1 2 3 4 5

Playboy 1 2 3 4 5

Deserter 1 2 3 4 5

Dominating 1 2 3 4 5

Another way in which to familiarize students with these roles would be to stage a small group discussion in which each student in the group plays one of the roles.

After participating in a group discussion or project, students could rate themselves, using the above scale, on which roles they think they played.

Litsey also suggests an evaluation form to be completed by each individual at the conclusion of a group discussion or project:

Our Effectiveness As A Group

Scale: 1…..2…..3…..4…..5…..6…..7…..8…..9…..10

Low High

1. ………. Members of the group felt free to state their real opinions.

2. ………. The group defined its task.

3. ………. All members accepted the responsibility for the outcome of the meeting or project.

4. ………. All members of the group were productive.

5. ……….. All members of the group feel positive about the work n this session.

Copyright (1969) by the National Council of Teachers of English. Reprinted with permission.

Comment: Teaching students how to work in small groups requires a complete teaching effort. Like it or not, participating cooperatively in small groups is how the work of business and democracy is accomplished. Students need to learn how to help small groups work cohesively. RayS.