A Comparison of Two Training Formats for Persons With Varying Interpersonal Needs

Abstract

A Group and Interpersonal Relations Seminar using two training formats was investigated for opinion change in democratic lead ership. The two training formats differed in their residential nature: one format had weekly, non-residential meetings for one semester; the other had approximately the same number of meet ing hours with a residential weekend for part of the seminar. Each participant responded to a pre-, post-test for opinion about democratic leadership and to FIRO-B, a questionnaire used to determine interpersonal need scores.

Analysis of the data gave little support to the hypotheses of the study, which were based on the assumption that opinion change would be greatest in situations where needs were most easily met. The data did indicate a positive opinion change over a period of time after the course was completed, little difference in opin ion change for high scorers on FIRO-B regardless of the residential nature of the course, a positive opinion change for low scorers on FIRO-B who were in the partial residential sections, and a negative opinion change for low scorers on FIRO-B who were in the non- residential section.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Gassner, S.M. , Gold, J. , and Snadowsky, A.M. "Changes in the Phenomenal Field as a Result of Human Relations Training," Journal of Psychology, LVIII (1964), pp. 33-41.

Lacognata, A. A. A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Adult Residential and Non-Residential Learning Situations (Chicago: Center for the Study of Liberal Education for Adults, 1961).

Lieberman, M.A. "The Relationship of Group Climate to Individual Change" (Unpublished doctoral dissertation, The University of Chicago, 1958).

Mathis, A.G. "Development and Validation of a Trainability Index for Laboratory Training Groups" (Unpublished doctoral dissertation, The University of Chicago, 1955).

Miles, M.B. "Human Relations Training: Processes and Outcomes," Journal of Counseling Psychology, VII (1960), pp. 301-6.

Schutz, William , FIRO: A Three-Dimensional Theory of Interpersonal Behavior ( New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Inc., 1958).

Steele, Fred I. "Personality and the 'Laboratory Style'," Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, IV (1968), No. 1, pp. 25-45.

Valiquet, Michael I. "Individual Change in a Management Development Program," Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, IV (1968), No. 3, pp. 313-325.

Wientge, King M. , and Lahr, James K. "The Influence of Social Climate on Adult Achievement," ( University College Research Publication, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, 1966). Mimeographed.