A multivariate investigation of machiavellianism and task structure in four‐man groups

Abstract

This study was designed to test the proposition that group communication and members' reactions result from an interaction between the demands of the experimental tasks and the characteristics of the individuals performing them. After an investigation of the work of Cooley, Mead, Goffman, Szasz, Shostrom, Leary, and Berne, the researcher concluded that an important dimension for communication study is the personality trait referred to as "manipulation." The Machiavellian test developed by Richard Christie, for the purpose of measuring a person's manipulative orientations toward interpersonal relations, was chosen as the criterion measure, V Man is not born human. It is only slowly and laboriously, in fruitful contact, cooperation, and conflict with his fellows, that he attains the distinctive qualities of human nature.

Small Group Work Climates

“…In addition to individual needs, task structure has impact upon procedural messages. Specifically, unstructured tasks generate more procedural activity than do structured tasks (Bochner, 1972). But once group members grasp the complexity of a task, they develop work routines for both structured and unstructured tasks (Naylor and Dickinson, 1969).…”

A Method for Establishing the Representational Validity of Interaction Coding Systems: Do We See What They See?

“…In the long history of Bales' Interaction Process Analysis system there have been several revisions (Carter et al, 1951;Bales, 1950;Borgatta, 1962;Bales, 1970;Bales & Cohen, 1979), but only two partial attempts to determine if the IPA system incorporated participants' categories, both of which yielded mixed results (Borgatta, 1962;Bales & Cohen, 1979, Part 111; see also Stiles [ 19801 for negative results). Nevertheless, researchers continue to use the IPA to make claims about participants' understandings which may be unfounded (see Bochner & Bochner, 1972, for one example). Fisher (1970) used methods of grounded theory construction (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) to generate his Decision Proposal System, but did not provide validating evidence to support his observations.…”