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A mathematical model of participation in small group discussions
Author(s) -
Horvath William J.
Publication year - 1965
Publication title -
behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 0005-7940
DOI - 10.1002/bs.3830100206
Subject(s) - generality , simple (philosophy) , statement (logic) , group (periodic table) , probabilistic logic , problem statement , epistemology , exponential function , computer science , mathematics , psychology , mathematical economics , calculus (dental) , algebra over a field , pure mathematics , management science , philosophy , chemistry , engineering , mathematical analysis , psychotherapist , medicine , dentistry , organic chemistry
The frequency of verbal interactions among members of small discussion groups has been carefully studied in experiments by Bales and his associates at Harvard and by Stephan and Mishler at Princeton. Stephan suggested that the data could be described by a simple exponential equation, which has intrigued several mathematical sociologists because of its apparent generality in providing a concise statement of experimental results. The present paper suggests that this result could be generated by a simple probabilistic process, which may have uses in other types of group interaction studies where an analogous structure prevails.