The effect of leader statements on patterns of group development in small study groups of a Tavistock group relations conference.

摘要

This study investigated the relationship of group leader and group member's patterns of verbal behavior. The research asked whether there were differences in the kinds of verbal statements made in groups by both leaders and by group members, whether these differences changed over time, and whether the differences were related to group productivity measured by the proportion of group member Work statements. A repeated measures analysis of variance showed overall similar patterns of development and some differences. The verbal categories of Work, Flight and Pairing accounted for 83% of the group member statements; the Task categories of Giving Information and Requesting Information accounted for 93% of the leader statements. The study concluded that task group productivity was related to a balance of leader task and social statements, with leader statements requesting information, and was inversely related to Pairing and Flight group statements and leader statements giving information.