Group Observation Project

Description

Hi all, Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, we do not have the option of physically going out into the community to observe a group. Instead of observing a community-based group, you will complete the assignment by observing video clips of groups in action. I am providing you with six different video clips. Your assignment is to choose at least two of the six clips below, and those will be the ‘groups’ to which you will observe, analyze, and apply concepts of group dynamics. You may use any combination of the video clips you want, or only two of them. The narrative description of the group is still critical and must be described for each video group you analyze. Be sure to clearly identify which video clips you analyze/discuss and include those as sources in your references. You will choose six (6) concepts and apply them to the various groups seen in the video clips.  The assignment content remains the same as written in the assignment in the Canvas classroom; only the parts highlighted in yellow in the Canvas assignment have changed.  Note, you do not need to provide detailed background information about the groups and/or organizations of the group. Counseling video 1 https://youtu.be/cV3IzZDDuAQ (Reality therapy) Counseling video 2 https://youtu.be/EYHthbg1nmY (group counseling video 2 diff clips included) Counseling video 3 https://youtu.be/PV8Fl8rf5Sk (pet grief group) Counseling video 4 https://youtu.be/EJTFaJ1-Ul0 (Coach Carter) Counseling video 5 https://youtu.be/hEJaz3sinEs (Remembering the Titans) Counseling video 6 https://youtu.be/idWeAY0K6kU (addressing conflict) 1. Group observations are a form of data (evidence) collection–you are collecting information that must not only be reported but MUST be analyzed. Analysis must make use of the content of this class. You will provide evidence of this by citing your textbook, along with other scholarly sources. 2. Be sure to develop a thesis for your project. This will help you understand how to analyze your group. You will be analyzing both the interaction and the roles in the group. Two resources for analyzing group dynamics are the Bales IPA and Benne and Sheat’s Role Inventory (see below). Step 2: Analyze the group 1. Be sure to consider the type of group and its function. Review your book carefully and reflect on the material covered in each chapter. For example, if you observe a group that has been meeting every week for some period of time, then it will not make sense to analyze the group from a group formation perspective. It may make sense to analyze it in terms of performance or effectiveness. If using any or all of the Phases of Group Development (forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning) as a concept to apply to a group, it counts as ONE concept! 2. If using charts to collect evidence, create a Bales IPA chart. Your chart will need to have columns to represent the individuals in the group so that you can tally each person’s activity. You will present a summary chart in the paper and you will submit the chart you used during the meeting at the end of your paper. 3. If using charts to collect evidence, create a Benne and Sheat’s Roles chart so that you can tally examples of the roles in the group. You will present a summary chart in the paper, and you will submit the chart you use during the meeting at the end of your paper.  4. When you analyze the information you gather, you may decide to provide some numbers and percentages. For example, how many questions were asked during a meeting? How many statements were made? How many answers were provided? If you know these numbers, you can provide some percentages. This is discussed in more detail below 5. Your descriptions should be specific, objective and neutral. Saying that a group is “really helpful” is not specific—charts can help you gather specific examples of behaviors that you can present as evidence of helpfulness and supportiveness. Objective and neutral language is a must. Do not insert your personal opinion, e.g., “This group did not help me.” Do not use evaluative words like “crazy,” “wild,” “ridiculous,” “wonderful,” “great,” or “loved it.” 6. There have been quite a few studies on online support groups–you can get some ideas about what to analyze in the face-to-face group by looking at some of these studies. Begin this search by going into our databases and use “group observations of support groups” as search terms. Keep in mind that online groups are not exactly the same as face-to-face groups. Step 3: Write your paper 1.         When you write the paper, use standard APA format. Your paper will have the following elements: o              Title page; Introduction, Narrative, Analysis/Application, Conclusion, References, and Appendix (if applicable). o              Use one inch margins 2.         Give your paper the following sections: Refer to the Rubric for additional important details. In the Introduction, begin by reviewing previous research on your topic. To do this, log into the FSCJ databases and look for books and journal articles that have been written on the type of group you observed. You must include a thesis statement in the introduction–what do you want to demonstrate or prove about your group? The introduction also identifies the 6 group dynamic concepts that will be discussed, and describes how the rest of the paper is going to be structured. The Narrative section can have three sub-headings. First, describe your Procedures–in this case, it will be a naturalistic observation, and you will present some quantitative analysis. Be sure to provide a definition and a description for this type of method. See pages 38-41 in your textbook for help with this. Be sure to note the advantages and limitations for this method. If using charts, be sure to describe your two coding schemes–you will need to provide citations for both schemes (IPA and roles). Next, describe the Participants. Indicate how many people you observed, their gender, age, etc. Next, the Analysis/Application section may include two sub-headings. If using charts, in Results, present one summary table for the IPA information and one summary table for the Roles information. Be sure to add a column to show percentages in each table. That way, the reader can see what percentage of behaviors you reported for each category. The tables should appear in the text of the paper, and you state the trends and patterns you found without interpretation. For example, your group may have had more agreements than disagreements. You would state this by noting the frequencies and percentages of agreements and disagreements. In the Discussion section, you explain, discuss and interpret your findings. This is where you will use the six concepts (mentioned in the introduction) to analyze and interpret your evidence and the events described in the narrative section. You may refer to your book or other scholarly sources to help you think through how to discuss your evidence. In the Summary/Conclusion section, you will relate what you found to your thesis statement and to your conclusions about the group dynamics. Finally, you will suggest how the lessons learned about the group apply to human service workers. You may want to review some studies that have been published in books or journals to see how others handle their discussions. In the References section, you will list your sources using APA style. If using charts to collect evidence, include an Appendix section to include the charts you used to tabulate behaviors during the meeting. The charts you include in the Appendix will NOT have percentages in them.