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Abstract

Seventy-nine members of several kinds of groups reported their goals, expectations, and perceptions of the group experience on five questionnaires. The questionnaires were administered near the beginning and again at the end of university counseling center therapy groups, group process class laboratories, and a sensitivity training microlaboratory (posttest N = 69). Factor analyses of the responses to the respective questionnaires identified interpretable dimensions of personal goals, group leadership, norms, methods, and atmosphere. Further analyses yielded differences among the several types of groups on all scales and made it possible to characterize the therapy groups (considered together), each of the two process laboratories, and the microlaboratory. The study provided evidence that participants do begin group experiences with expectations and that it is possible to identify empirically both the dimensions of their expectations and ways in which their group experiences differ.

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Dimensions of Participant Goals,Expectations,and Perceptions in Small Group Experiences

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