Miserable, Never-Want-to-Experience-this Again Group Experience: Describe a difficult communication episode you experienced as a member of
small group. Briefly sketch the circumstances, describe what happened, and how the
experience affected you. Use an engaging narrative style to introduce the case facts.
Next, select and describe group dynamics and/or interpersonal or intrapersonal
communication theory to analyze this experience (review chapters 1-4, 7, 8 for theory).
Use theory to expand your understanding of the events and gain insight about this
experience, analyzing the experience by applying several concepts to explain and
interpret your experience. Read the article on group styles and add
another layer of analysis by examining the experience using the theory associated with
“groups styles” (see Eliasoph & Lichterman, 2003). Reflect on this experience and
recommend how you or others might learn from this episode and your analysis. Explain
what you would do to improve the communication process in the future. beginning with a summary of the data (case facts), selection of theories,description, analysis, and ending with a reflection and recommendation regarding your case.
Summarize the data: Describe the results from your research,
including: data from interviews, inventories, observations, descriptions
of critical incidents, and reviews of literature and documents. Before
interpreting your data, describe the methods of investigation, collection
and organization of your data.
Theory: Select and describe theories as potential candidates for
analysis and then use them to analyze “raw” data. For example, use
theories related to adult learning, group dynamics, conflict or team
leadership to “take apart” and interpret the experience of people
working together in groups.
Analyze: Use theories to help explain and interpret the meaning of
your data. Apply theory with precision and imagination, identifying
ways some or all aspects of theory may apply to your data. Compare
and contrast how various theories may explain your results. Determine
whether theory applied in your analysis generally fits and helps to
explain and interpret your data or only applies in limited
circumstances, weakening or contradicting your analysis. Evaluate the
usefulness of various theories to explain and offer a new perspective
regarding the meaning of the data. A deeper understanding of data
occurs as a result of your analysis beyond the mere summary of the
data. Data, when successfully interpreted through analysis using
appropriate theory, produces a finding from your research. If your
research, argument and analysis convinces others through peer review,
the results become part of the scholarship in the field.
Reflect and Recommend: Consider the impact of your analysis and its
contribution to knowledge in the field. Describe how the new
knowledge challenges or expands existing knowledge, making a
contribution to the existing theory and related studies in your field.
Regarding your personal investigation, consider how the findings may
change your perspective, behaviors, goals, or ways of communicating
and being in the world. How does this learning change you? What
changes do you recommend based on your learning?
