Introduces both the theories and practical applications of small group dynamics.

Written by Dan O'Hair, a noted scholar and president of the National Communication Association, and Mary O. Wiemann, a master teacher, The Essential Guide to Group Communication is a brief but thorough supplement that begins with the basics of communication theory and moves on to explain the key concepts of successful group communication. Designed to complement The Essential Guide to Interpersonal Communication and a wide variety off public speaking texts, this booklet offers instructors flexible options for designing a public speaking or introduction to communication course.

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Documents and synthesizes work done in group communication scholarship's 50-year history, presenting an overview of group communication study from its beginnings in pedagogy to its status as a mature discipline with a variety of theoretical positions and methodological practices. Material is divided

Creating Effective Groups, Third Edition gives students the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to communicate more effectively and interact more productively in the small group setting. This new edition features all new sections on diversity, group dynamics, online resources, and social media.

"I enjoyed the book, learned a LOT, and LOVE her creativity in discussing different examples that help group constructs some to life. It represents the breadth of the new Group Communication Division in NCA better than any book I have seen." —David Seibold, University of California, Santa Barbara "I can unequivocally state that the proposed text is LONG overdue! Over the years I have reviewed several text proposals. SunWolf′s proposal ranks in the 99th percentile. . . . This is one of the most innovative, heuristic, pragmatic, and engaging proposals I have ever perused." —Jim L. Query, Jr., University of Houston "Peer Groups is different from the run-of-the-mill group text book. I can see that my students will learn so much more from Dr. SunWolf′s orientation than they have from the other books I′ve used. The benefits are that the topics related to [students′] practical world and that there is so much to foster in-class discussion. Although many students are familiar with the ′work world,′ they are not yet there. Dr. SunWolf provides them with what is relevant in their lives now!" —Audrey E. Kali, Framingham State College Clans, cliques, clubs, or classmates: Students of group communication should be encouraged to think critically about concepts to the groups that matter to them most—peers. Peer Groups is the first textbook to explore group communication dynamics with this vital group. Drawing on a combination of traditional and new theories, Dr. SunWolf uses an inviting writing style, shares the words and provocative thinking of real world group members, and draws on research from social psychology, communication, and group dynamics. This innovative book offers suggestions for critical thinking and new behaviors in students′ own peer groups and will inspire further exploration of small group dynamics. Features and Benefits Introduces students and researchers to cutting-edge cross-disciplinary thinking with new theories that explain group dynamics and member behaviors: Symbolic-Interpretive Perspective, Group Dialectics, Decisional Regret Theory, Social Comparison Theory, and the Bona Fide Group Perspective Examines the dynamics of real world peer groups: children′s play groups, adolescence cliques, street gangs, elite hot task groups, and decision-making juries Generates readers′ interest in studying group behaviors by drawing upon students′ personal experiences with groups Brings marginalized groups and ethnicities to the stage, from African American cowboys to multi-ethnic street gangs, including the painful issue of those left out of peer groups Offers a student-friendly reference guide with an extensive and easy-to-read table that summarizes group concepts and theories Guides classroom discussion, triggers critical thinking, and suggests useful written assignments and tools for break-out discussions with end-of-chapter sections Intended Audience This accessible and innovative text is designed for undergraduate students of Communication, Social Psychology, and Sociology. It is designed to supplement and partner with any current group textbook, as well as act as a stand-alone text. Dr. SunWolf is a scholar of unusual breadth and depth. She is a cross-disciplinary scholar in the fields of legal communication, persuasion, multicultural storytelling, social exclusion, and group decision making. Her national award-winning productivity in the past five years has been astonishing: the publication of five books, 22 journal articles or book chapters, a published educational DVD, and serving on the editorial board of five journals. Dr. SunWolf broke new ground by publishing in a top journal a new theory of communication (Decisional Regret Theory), expanding the field of small group communication to include the study of childhood group processes, gathering data from 680 adolescents in the Bay Area, as well as being the first author in trial advocacy to devote sustained attention to jurors′ religious beliefs and the role of empathy and compassion in jury deliberations.

Communicating in Groups offers a concise, step-by-step introduction to the theory and practice of small group communication and teaches students to develop and apply critical thinking skills in group problem-solving situations. The book continues to synthesize current small group theory and research while presenting the material in a practical and accessible manner for students interested in the dynamics of small group communication. The eighth edition marks the first time two central chapters on communication are integrated into one chapter, capturing key principles of both verbal and non-verbal small group behavior within a new definition of communication. With the firm belief that group participation can be an uplifting, energizing experience, authors Kathy Adams and Gloria Galanes give students the tools they will need to achieve this outcome. Research and theory are presented with a focus on what is important to students—understanding their group experiences and making them effective communicators.

The study of group communication has never been more critical, as recent national and international events point to the fragility of group life. An emerging perspective, the bona fide group perspective, offers hope for improving group communication, for it recognizes that any group--a family, community group, expedition team, social support group, organizational work group, interorganizational collaboration, or international team--must be studied and understood within the multiple contexts in which it is embedded and that significantly affects who is considered to be part of a group, what occurs within that group, and how that group interacts with other groups. In the second edition of his award-winning volume, editor Lawrence R. Frey showcases original research studies conducted on and about communication in bona fide groups, demonstrating the conceptual promise of the bona fide group perspective as realized in research practice. Divided into six sections, the chapters cover a wide range of new or relatively understudied groups--including youth community groups, Internet support groups, climbing expedition groups, families, neighborhoods, and school boards--and demonstrate the wealth of methodological approaches that can be used to study bona fide group communication--including survey methods, interviews, textual analysis, content analysis, participant observation, and discourse analysis. Group Communication in Context: Studies of Bona Fide Groups, Second Edition shows that the bona fide group perspective has the power to transform our thinking about groups and group communication and, in time, the practices in which groups and group members engage. The volume is intended for use in group communication courses, as well as a reference for group scholars. It is also appropriate for classes in psychology, social work, counseling, sociology, anthropology, and related disciplines.

This volume considers the current research of group communication scholars, provides an overview of major foci in the discipline, and points toward possible trajectories for future scholarship. It establishes group communication’s central role within research on human behaviour and fosters an identity for group communication researchers.