Small Group Communication: Theory & Practice: An Anthology

In the popular 1980s movie Back to the Future, the main characters go into the past to save the future. The Eighth Edition of Small Group Communication likewise draws on previous editions to produce a cutting-edge reader that should sustain the intellectual needs and pique the interest of today's students.As in the past, this anthology was to serve as a general reader. Therefore, the editors have included materials that are broadly based and comprehensive. They avoided advocating any one particular theory or methodological approach to studying small group communication, preferring instead to give the reader a balanced sampling of the diverse philosophies and concepts that constitute the fascinating study of small group communication.This edition continues a long-standing tradition of providing students with the most current thinking from the top scholars in the field of small group communication. Carry-over selections from previous editions have been updated, and a number of new readings have been added to make this anthology as up-to-date as possible.What has not changed in this edition is the philosophy on how this book is put together. Group communication is a social activity with consequential outcomes. In other words, communication makes a difference in small groups. The reader will note that all selections focus on the link between communication and its group outcomes.The Eighth Edition presents an organizational structure that departs from the "mini-textbook" format of the previous edition. Here, the readings are organized into eight parts. Part I, The Nature of Groups, presents three chapters introducing students to the definitions and characteristics of small groups. Part II, Theories of Small Group Communication, provides three chapters that elaborate on major theories of group communication. Part III, Organization of Groups, contains two chapters that discuss how groups and their communication develop and change over time. Part IV, Group Processes, has three chapters that present different aspects of group communication processes as they are exhibited in small groups. Part V, Groups and Teams, includes four chapters that focus on communication and performance in various kinds of groups and teams. Part VI, Leadership in Groups, provides three chapters that review major concepts and theories relevant to an understanding of small group leadership. Part VII, Diversity in Groups, features three chapters focusing on diversity and intercultural issues related to small groups. Part VIII, Analyzing Group Communication, consists of three chapters that elaborate on different methodological approaches to analyzing and studying communication processes in small groups.The Editors begin each part with a short introduction explaining the importance of the area and topics covered.