Small Group Dynamics and Sociometrics
Small Group Dynamics
Small group collaboration is vital for any type of organization to function successfully. Feedback on group dynamics has been proven to help with the performance of collaboration, with interpersonal success, and with overall efficiency of an organization. Small group collaboration is an essential factor for success in the workplace, the board room, the field and even in the coffee room. By improving the effectiveness of group collaboration, the performance and satisfaction derived from the outcomes of group work
SOCIOMETRY
“Sociometry” (or roughly the study of small group dynamics) is based on the fact that people make choices in interpersonal relationships, whether formal business or casual social. Whenever people gather, they make choices -- where to sit or stand; choices about who is perceived as friendly and who not, who is central to the group, who is rejected, who is isolated. As Moreno says, “Choices are fundamental facts in all ongoing human relations, choices of people and choices of things. It is immaterial whether the motivations are known to the chooser or not; it is immaterial whether [the choices] are inarticulate or highly expressive, whether rational or irrational. They do not require any special justification as long as they are spontaneous and true to the self of the chooser. They are facts of the first existential order.” (Moreno, 1953, p. 720).
Sociometric Criterion
Choices are always made on some basis or criterion. The criterion may be subjective, such as an intuitive feeling of liking or disliking a person on first impression. The criterion may be more objective and conscious, such as knowing that a person does or does not have certain skills needed for the group task.
When members of a group are asked to choose others in the group based on a specific criteria, everyone in the group can make choices and describe why the choices were made. From these choices a description emerges of the networks inside the group. A drawing, like a map, of those networks is called a sociogram. The data for the sociogram may also be displayed as a table or matrix of each person’s choices. Such a table is called a sociomatrix.
What Can Educational Engineers Do For Me?
By gathering sociometric data and providing such information safely and confidentially to leadership, group dynamics can be observed, calculated and arranged for best effect and outcome. Placing people in their optimal group setting does not mean isolating or stifling. But it does mean higher levels of work output, greater discussion and more productive discourse, a fostered supportive environment and lastly it provides a tool for future planning to maximize the human factors of any successful small group product.
Educational Engineers seeks, at every juncture, to make YOUR group more successful, more cohesive and more productive by objectively analyzing your own specific situation and producing feedback to help insure success.
Small group collaboration is vital for any type of organization to function successfully. Feedback on group dynamics has been proven to help with the performance of collaboration, with interpersonal success, and with overall efficiency of an organization. Small group collaboration is an essential factor for success in the workplace, the board room, the field and even in the coffee room. By improving the effectiveness of group collaboration, the performance and satisfaction derived from the outcomes of group work
SOCIOMETRY
“Sociometry” (or roughly the study of small group dynamics) is based on the fact that people make choices in interpersonal relationships, whether formal business or casual social. Whenever people gather, they make choices -- where to sit or stand; choices about who is perceived as friendly and who not, who is central to the group, who is rejected, who is isolated. As Moreno says, “Choices are fundamental facts in all ongoing human relations, choices of people and choices of things. It is immaterial whether the motivations are known to the chooser or not; it is immaterial whether [the choices] are inarticulate or highly expressive, whether rational or irrational. They do not require any special justification as long as they are spontaneous and true to the self of the chooser. They are facts of the first existential order.” (Moreno, 1953, p. 720).
Sociometric Criterion
Choices are always made on some basis or criterion. The criterion may be subjective, such as an intuitive feeling of liking or disliking a person on first impression. The criterion may be more objective and conscious, such as knowing that a person does or does not have certain skills needed for the group task.
When members of a group are asked to choose others in the group based on a specific criteria, everyone in the group can make choices and describe why the choices were made. From these choices a description emerges of the networks inside the group. A drawing, like a map, of those networks is called a sociogram. The data for the sociogram may also be displayed as a table or matrix of each person’s choices. Such a table is called a sociomatrix.
What Can Educational Engineers Do For Me?
By gathering sociometric data and providing such information safely and confidentially to leadership, group dynamics can be observed, calculated and arranged for best effect and outcome. Placing people in their optimal group setting does not mean isolating or stifling. But it does mean higher levels of work output, greater discussion and more productive discourse, a fostered supportive environment and lastly it provides a tool for future planning to maximize the human factors of any successful small group product.
Educational Engineers seeks, at every juncture, to make YOUR group more successful, more cohesive and more productive by objectively analyzing your own specific situation and producing feedback to help insure success.
Mission Statement
Educational Engineers provides high-quality, relevant, and varied educational training and opportunities for the intellectual, cultural, and personal growth of all members of the community. Educational Engineers values its role as an personal source of insight, expertise and educational experience responding to the complex needs of those it serves.