Front Cover -- The Study Of Groups -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- Acknowledgements -- 1 The Performanace of Tasks in Groups -- Assumption one: The members of the group are equal in strength or skill, and the task they perform is very simple. -- Assumption two: Let us now assume an unequal degree of skill among the members. -- Assumption three: Let the correct solution be unverifiable. -- Assumption four: Let the problem to be solved consist of a series of sub-problems. -- 2 Differentiation in the Group: (1) Functional Authority -- 3 Differentiation in the Group: (2) Status Authority -- Assumption one: Let a routine be established in the group. -- Assumption Two: Let us assume likes and dislikes in the group. -- Assumption Three: Let members differ in the amount they wish to speak. -- Assumption Four: Let differences in status be recognised by mimbixs of the group. -- Assumption Five: Let members interact within a competitive situation. -- 4 The Spread of Information -- Assumption one: Let all members be exactly alike. -- Assumption two: Let all members communicate through all the links at their disposal. -- Assumption three: Let the number of members be varied in a group in which each member is directly linked with every other member. -- Assumption four: Let the number of members be held constant and the number of links varied. -- Assumption five: Let the number of links and the number of members be the same in two groups. -- Assumption six: Let the centrality indices of members differ. -- Assumption seven: Let there be disturbances in the communication channels. -- Assumption eight: Let some members be more closely connected with the network than others. -- Assumption nine: Let some members be open to influence and information from the environment.

Assumption ten: Let the information spread from a single member in a group differ entiated into sub-groups. -- 5 The Need for Organisation -- Assumption one: Members initially alike may change their function through learning. -- Assumption two: Let each member communicate to only one other member at a time. -- Assumption three: Let us assume that not only information-transmission but also theunderstanding of messages take time. -- Assumption four: Let the time interval between transmissions be lengthy. -- Assumption five: Let the time period between transmissions be shortened. -- Assumption six: Let there be disturbances in the communication network. -- Assumption seven: Let there be a change of routine in the history of the group. -- 6 The Evolution of Norms -- Assumption one: Let the individual work alone, at a task unfamiliar to him. -- Assumption two: Let the group be present and let its norms be unknown to the individual newly placed in it. -- Assumption three: Let some aspects of the task be more easily evaluated than others. -- Assumption four: Let the individual take part in a competitive situation. -- Assumption five: Let the individual perform a task with other members of the group. -- Assumption six: Let the individual perform a task with other members of the group, when no one is in a position to evaluate his own performance or that of other members. -- 7 The Evolution of Likes and Dislikes -- Assumption one: Let interaction continue over a period of time and let us assume that as interaction continues further information will be available to members of the group. -- Assumption two: Let there be differences in the communication rates of members. -- Assumption three: Let interaction be frequent and of a kind which gives little informationabout the sentiments of others. -- Assumption four: Let the pressure of the environment increase.

Assumption five: Let the task or the task structure be disliked. -- Assumption six: Let us assume control by one member of the group. -- Assumption seven: Let there be sub-groups with characteristic norms in the group. -- 8 Sentiment in the Group: The Expressive Dimension -- Expressive Behaviour -- Rewards -- 9 Communicaton as Adaptive Behaviour -- Direct access: the open cell and the expert -- Indirect access to resources -- 10 Decision making as Instrumental Behaviour: The Dimension of Control -- Assumption one: Let all members participate in decision-making and let them share a frame of reference. -- Assumption two: Let all members participate io decision-making and let the group not share a frame of reference. -- Assumption three: Let members share a frame of reference in a group in which not all members participate in making the decision. -- Assumption four: Let the decision-making function be restricted to certain members of the group in a group where there is no shared frame of reference. -- 11 The Self defeating Process: Latent Pattern Maintenance -- Assumption one: Let progress in the adaptive dimension be maximised. -- Assumption two: Let decision-making be maximised. -- Assumption three: Let expressive behaviour be maximised. -- 12 The Larger Society and Social Change -- Society as a system -- Social change -- Appendex -- Bibliography -- Index.