The Case for the Study of Small Groups

PUBLISHED together in this issue are fourteen papers which place a central emphasis on the nature and consequences of face-to-face interaction. These papers, which might ordinarily have been spread through several issues, are collected into a special issue in order to direct attention of members of allied disciplines, like anthropology, and psychology, to the variety and extent of sociology's present commitment in the small group field. Within the ranks of sociology it is hoped that this issue may help to capture the minds and talents of members who have not previously concerned themselves with small group research. In the face of the tremendous growth of research activity in the small groups field, one cannot successfully maintain that small group inquiry is in any sense a fringe activity of the social sciences. A recent bibliography of small group research listing 1407 items reveals, when classified by periods, that from one item per decade at the turn of the century the rate of production of small group items has increased to three per week at the present.' It is estimated that there are approximately 200 courses being taught in sociology and psychology departments, which courses, despite a wide variety of course titles, are

Psychology · Social and Educational Sciences

• Using Symbols and Shapes for Analysis in Small Focus Group Research

  Open Access•Oladokun Omojola•Qualitative Report•2016

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• A synoptic history and typology of experimental research in political science

  Open Access•David A Bositis, Douglas Steinel•Political Behavior•1987

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• Social Character and Social Problems

  Francis E Merrill•Social Problems•1955

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