EPSY 5155—Group Dynamics and Social Influence

Official syllabus will be handed out in class

Instructors
David W. Johnson, 60 Peik Hall, 612-624-7031

Overview of the course

This course is a broad overview of group dynamics applied to educational settings and issues. Class sessions will include lectures, discussions, simulations, role-plays, and experiential exercises. Participants will become acquainted with the major theories, research, and major figures in the field. Most topics will be overviews in the sense that entire courses could be developed around the areas discussed in one class session. The specific application of the theory and research in group dynamics to classroom and school practices and educational issues and problems will be emphasized. Participants will leave this course wanting to delve further into specific topics in group dynamics.

Course objectives

1. Participants will learn the theory and research in the field of group dynamics.
2. Participants will learn to apply group dynamics theory and research educational settings and issues.
3. Participants will improve their skills in writing scholarly papers in the fields of group dynamics.
4. Participants will increase their understanding of consultation strategies to diagnosis groups and intervene to increase their effectiveness.
5. Participants will increase their skills in diagnosing the effectiveness of groups and intervening to increase their effectiveness.
6. Participants will learn how to apply the theory and research in group dynamics to their specific setting.

Texts

Johnson, D. W. & Johnson F. (1997). Joining together: Group theory and group skills (6th ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, R. (1994). Leading the cooperative school (2nd ed.). Edina, MN: Interaction Book Company.

Forsyth, D. (1990). Group Dynamics. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. (Recommended only)

Course requirements

1. Attend class.
2. Be prepared for and actively involved in class discussions and activities.
3. Attend group experience on (dates vary by semester)
4. Read assigned material each week.
5. Write weekly papers.
6. Conduct a skill training exercise and write a description of the experience. Apply the principles of experiential learning in doing so.
7. Observe a group and write an analysis of how well it is functioning. Plan an intervention to improve its functioning. The group experience may be used for this assignment.
8. Write a research review paper discussing some aspect of group dynamics. The paper should be about 12 pages long, typed, and doubled spaced. Use the APA style of referencing. A dark typewriter or printer ribbon should be used.

All written assignments must be critiqued by the members of your base groups. Hand in all written assignments the last day of class with copies of the critiques by the other members of your base group.

Grading

Grades will be determined on the basis of learning contracts. A certain amount of work is expected of all students. The alternative contracts are:

A - All course requirements (1 - 8).

B - Course requirements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

Class sessions

Session one
 1. Introduction to group dynamics and shared decision making.
 2. Group goals and social interdependence.

Session two
 3. Communication within groups.
 4. Leadership.
 5. Decision making.

Session three
 6. Controversy and creativity.
 7. Conflicts of interest.
 8. The use of power.

Session four through nine
Inductive approach to group dynamics
Diagnosis & intervention
Learning group skills

Session ten
 9. Leading learning and discussion groups.
10. Shared decision-making
11. Application to schools and colleges
12. Summary and evaluation.

Revised October 2003