Group Process as Diagnostic

Abstract

As a general policy, Small Group Research does not publish articles dealing with family therapy; there are several excellent journals that deal exclusively with this topic. We have decided to include this set of articles because they are tied together by a common methodology that appears to have broader relevance for the study of groups. Because the theory and method underlying these articles may not be familiar to many of our readers, we have also decided to include a brief article that provides background information on formal methods of group process analysis. For many years, work on group process was conducted primarily in the small group laboratory. In recent years, more and more research has moved to the field. We have shifted from the development of basic theory and methodology to practical application. This brief introduction to group process summarizes the methodology and recent applications.