Observing and Evaluating a Small Group
This chapter is pivotal to your final project in this class. As you know, for your final project you will be both observing and evaluating a small group. Pay close attention to this chapter, as it covers the following ideas:
Systematic Feedback
Success and Failure
Observer-Member Scales
Observer Feedback Guidelines
Individual Role Behavior
Verbal Interaction and Content
Analysis
Ethical Reflection
Chapter Objectives:
1). Describe four ways of learning how to make small groups successful.
2). Discuss the design, types and uses of rating scales.
3). Describe post-meeting evaluation forms.
4). Explain the key question regarding information usefulness.
5). Outline observer feedback.
6). Describe the evaluation of verbal interactions and content analysis.
The chapter starts out by covering Systematic Feedback by describing "four ways of obtaining feedback to improve a group's future success".
Page 247: "The first is to read a great deal about groups and teams".
Page 247: "The second method is participation in small groups".
Page 247: "The third approach is to obtain external evaluation advice".
Page 248: "A final source of feedback is our own reflection and analysis".
Can you see how you will be employing these four steps for your final project? You will engage in each step, focusing on each part equally. Reading about groups and teams (already doing that in this class), participation (most already have extensive experience working in small groups), external evaluation advice (ask questions, and ask for help if needed), and of course the big one: reflection and analysis. Your paper will be based on this final step!
Success and Failure - I will let you read this brief section on your own.
Observer-Member Scales
This section covers different types of rating scales. Pages 248-254 offer some great suggestions for obtaining feedback. Page 248 says, "When appropriate, consultant observers not directly involved with the group work can provide excellent insights. Recognizing this as an important source of growth and development, corporations systematically offer evaluations of a specific team's process by outside observers to help the team develop." For your final course project, you will be acting as an outside observer, or consultant. This project will not only allow you to grow as a member of possible teams in the future, but will give you unique insight into the inner workings of a team, and act as a consultant.
On Page 250, table 14.1 shows Rating Scale Topics - Possible Areas of Concern. This table can give you some great ideas when evaluating your group.
Page 251 talks about Post-Meeting Evaluation Forms. A great idea, if the group you are observing will allow it. Of course, some groups may not want you to act as a 'consultant', rather, simply an observer, and that's ok! But the more you can glean from your group, the better! Using an evaluation form can help your process of writing your paper.
Moving along to page 255 (though, don't skip the pages in between - they can only help your final project). This area talk about Observer Feedback Guidelines. If your group would like some feedback from you as an observer, use this section to guide your feedback. There are 10 discussion points/suggestions to read through.
Individual Role Behavior, Verbal Interaction and Content Analysis, and Ethical Reflection are all short sections, and I will leave those for you to cover.
As you can see, this chapter is essential for your final project. There are many ways to approach your final paper: Offering consulting services, acting as a silent observer, giving some general feedback to the group leader to improve group interaction, etc....
I hope that you have found this chapter as useful as I have!
Have a fabulous day!
The Blogging Prof.
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