3 credits
20.0 h + 12.0 h
Q1
Teacher(s)
Thunus Sophie;
Language
French
Content
This course aims to examine and understand the creation and life of small groups. The reciprocal relationships between small groups’ creation and development and changes within organisations and societies are also explored. The main themes raised through this course include group communication and interactions as well as group roles, processes and phenomena, including leadership, deviance, conformism and social influence, conflicts and consensus.
More specifically, the role of language and communication in supporting group interactions and processes is examined before discussing how intra-group roles and phenomena impact on groups’ ability to foster innovation in organisations and to bring change in societies or, conversely, to protect exiting organisational and social orders.
Moreover, this course introduces three group techniques, namely, the Phillips 66, Focus Groups and Panel Discussion, which can be used in organisations and/or for conducting out scientific research.
Following this course, students will be able:
More specifically, the role of language and communication in supporting group interactions and processes is examined before discussing how intra-group roles and phenomena impact on groups’ ability to foster innovation in organisations and to bring change in societies or, conversely, to protect exiting organisational and social orders.
Moreover, this course introduces three group techniques, namely, the Phillips 66, Focus Groups and Panel Discussion, which can be used in organisations and/or for conducting out scientific research.
Following this course, students will be able:
- To analyse/support the formation and development of small groups at the social and organisational level;
- To analyse the impact of language and communication on group development;
- To analyse de distribution of (and changes in the distribution of) roles amongst group participants;
- To understand the influence of group communication and role distribution on groups processes, and to question their impact on groups efficiency in performing tasks, such as decision making or problem solving.
- To understand how group dynamic mediates the impact of organisational and social change, by hindering or facilitating the achievement of the desired goals;
Teaching methods
This course includes a series of lecture courses dedicated to the presentation of small group’s theories and concepts. Lecture courses draw on selected book chapters, scientific articles, video material and PowerPoint presentations, which emphasise and summarise the relevant content. All course material is available on-line.
Lecture courses are followed by practical courses aiming to experiment with the focus group’s method to raise and discuss contemporary research questions.
Lecture courses are followed by practical courses aiming to experiment with the focus group’s method to raise and discuss contemporary research questions.
Evaluation methods
Written exam, open-ended questions and writing exercise, based on the reading of a scientific article.
Online resources
https://moodleucl.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=7586
Bibliography
- Les cours ex-cathedra se basent sur des chapitres d'ouvrages, des articles scientifiques et des supports vidéo, dont le contenu principal et pertinent est résumé au sein de présentations PowerPoint. Les supports utilisés sont disponibles en ligne.
Forsyth, D. R. (2009). Group Dynamics: Cengage Learning.
Teaching materials
- Les cours ex-cathedra se basent sur des chapitres d’ouvrages, des articles scientifiques et des supports vidéo, dont le contenu principal et pertinent est résumé au sein de présentations PowerPoint. Les supports utilisés sont disponibles en ligne.
Faculty or entity
FSP
