Required Assignments (RAs) are substantive assignments intended to measure student performance against selected course objectives and/or program outcomes within a course. RAs are completed by all students across all Argosy University campuses and delivery formats without exception. Each RA contributes to a significant portion of the overall course grade and is assessed by faculty using the grading criteria designed for that assignment. These are individual assignments and students earn individual grades.
Assignment 2: RA 1: Group Observation and Analysis Paper
In this assignment, you will conduct a group observation in an effort to name and label various components of group dynamics and individual behaviors. You can expect to observe and describe the group’s norms, sometimes called unwritten rulesof the group, which are formed quickly during the meeting. You need to observe the group and label various components of the decision-making process and problem-solving strategies being used by the group.
You will be able to identify how you would intervene, as a facilitator, to either keep the group on track or provide positive feedback to the group when the group is working well. The most important observation you will make is whether the group is functioning in a manner that is helping or hurting its effort to attain its goals.
Tasks:
- Form a group with a minimum of four people to observe the completion of a task together (i.e., staff meeting). The group’s purpose is to provide clinical staffing for a client at a human services agency.
- Create a 5- to 6-page paper critiquing the group’s functioning regarding its processes and dynamics by addressing the following:
- Describe the group’s agenda, norms, decision-making process, problem-solving strategies, and members’ roles.
- Critique the group’s functioning. Explain whether it is an effective group and how its functioning promotes or interferes with achieving its goals.
- Determine how you would intervene as a facilitator.
- Support all your answers with research and utilize 3–4 scholarly sources that are cited in APA format.
