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The Group Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (GAPIM) conceptualizes group composition as a relational construct and provides methods for estimating the effects of compositional characteristics on outcomes of interest. This paper extends the GAPIM to a multilevel structural equation model framework, which expands the range of research questions the GAPIM might address, including those based on input-process-outcome models. Simulations, based on group size, number of groups, effect size, and compositional skewness, provide guidance for designing studies to maximize power to detect compositional effects. Discussion addresses composition in general, especially how "deep" characteristics become manifest and meaningful during interaction.

The extent to which participants hold similar notions of an idealized group member was expected to moderate the effect of information quantity on individual rates of participation. Participants responded privately in writing to the psychological profile and ideal group member tasks, then participated in discussion in groups of three. Individual responses to the psychological profile task were coded for information quantity, whereas data from the group member task was assessed for similarity within groups. Analysis revealed that similarity of the ideal group member moderated the effect of one's information resources on substantive (i.e., task relevant) and nonsubstantive participation. Discussion focuses on the conditions under which individuals are likely to participate actively in group interaction.

Participation in small groups is a complex process, influenced by the competencies, abilities, and behavior of both self and other as well as by the dynamic nature of discussion and the static features of the task. Work on conceptualizing the complexity of participation as an interdependent phenomenon has stagnated, due in no small measure to the difficulty in modeling nonindependent outcome data. Recent developments in such modeling have not only given researchers new analytical tools but raised important theoretical and conceptual concerns regarding participation. Offered here are descriptions of three relatively new models designed to assist in research on interdependence—the social relations model, multilevel modeling, and the actor-partner interdependence model—especially in terms of the issues each raises regarding the nature of participation.

This article examines the effect of quantity and commonality of information, as well as the influence of attitudes toward group work, on participation in small groups. Prior to discussion, participants were asked individually to write a psychological profile of a target person and to respond to a series of questions about working in groups. Profiles were coded for quantity and commonality of information. Participants were then assigned to three-person groups and asked to develop a consensus profile of the same target person. Discussions were coded for substantive and nonsubstantive contributions. Results indicated a positive actor effect for information quantity on substantive contributions, as well as positive actor and partner effects for commonality of information on both substantive and nonsubstantive participation. The attitudinal variables marginally affected participation. Discussion focuses on information pooling and stereotypes, and it argues for a dynamic model of information use and storage as an area of future research.

Participation often affects group processes and decision making. Members who are considered to be more useful participators often speak more frequently and are more influential than other participants. Consequently, it is important to identify the mechanisms that affect judgments of participation. This article examines how self- and other-judgments of participation are affected by contributions to discussion. As predicted, assessments of self's and others' participation were influenced by what was said and how often. Moreover, a participant's satisfaction with discussion was positively associated with both self- and other-assessments of participation. Discussion focuses on the relation between characteristics of group interaction and the task and provides issues for future research.

The purpose of this review is to discuss the ways in which partner effects are examined in group contexts. We focus on social influence, as it is a common theme in group research from cognate fields such as communication, psychology, family studies, social psychology, and business. We elaborate on different conceptions of partner effects in our discussion of the social relations model (SRM), the actor–partner interdependence model (APIM), and the group actor–partner interdependence model (GAPIM), and provide a comprehensive review of the studies that have utilized these models to study groups. Following that, we discuss the ways in which partner effects research can improve our theoretical and empirical understanding of group processes.

In every society groups rather than individuals are given responsibility for producing results that individuals potentially could produce just as well, but without the benefits of group effort. Once a small discussion group is convened, the members can be counted on to interact, often at length and sometimes contentiously, incontrovertible evidence that their interaction accomplishes something over and above what comes about because of characteristics of the task, cognitive processing, and context. And in order for members to achieve the collaboration and interdependence that make them a group rather than co-present individuals, they must interact. Hence, it is essential for small group researchers to examine behavioral data (by which we mean interactional conduct) if we are to understand what gives small groups the distinct utilities with which they are credited. This position does not mean that individual motivation, cognition and information processing, and other related phenomena should be ignored. It means rather that these matters are secondary to and contingent on interactional conduct and processes.

Hewes's socioegocentric model is applied to discussion data from an information-sharing task. The primary question is whether discussion data display psychological (individual-level) or interactional (group-level) associations among contributions. Two studies are described. The first used a card sort task to group the 42 items from the choose-the-best-candidate task. The second study used the groupings from the first task to code information-based contributions to discussion. Results indicated that participants reliably group the items into valence-based categories and that there were valence-based associations between items contributed to discussion. However, the associations were at the individual level of analysis—there were no group-level effects for information sharing. However, other features of the discussions did have group-level effects, and we argue for a better understanding of information sharing in terms of the comments that frame information-based contributions to interaction.

Analysis of the transcript of a jury's deliberations reveals a fourth production site for influence attempts beyond the three identified by Meyers and Brashers. The fourth site involves influence attempts by jurors to uphold the interests of a particular Court and a particular proceeding, and perhaps the interests of the larger judicial system. This gives the Institution a place at the table as an agent of influence, something that arguably generalizes beyond juries to all task groups embedded within organizations. The main part of the analysis identifies three main functions that were served by making the Institution's presence at the table felt—directives, correctives of others' positions and arguments, and justifications of positions and arguments. In addition, the analysis identifies two main ways that participants marked shifts in footing from speaking in their own voice to speaking in the Institution's voice. The first is the use of direct quotations of the Court's instructions. The second is the use of modal auxiliaries such as "should" and "need to," that presuppose an external source of rules and obligations.

This study examined if information similarity, treated as a group-level phenomenon, moderates the effect of gender on participation and related perceptions (e.g., satisfaction) in small groups. Participants responded privately to a psychological profile task, writing their impressions of the person described in it, and then interacted in three-person groups to reach a consensus concerning the target's characteristics. The written profiles were evaluated for their similarity within groups. Discussions were coded for substantive (task-related) and nonsubstantive contributions. Results of the multilevel analysis revealed that substantive participation was affected by the interaction of one's gender with that of his or her partners in different ways at high and low levels of information similarity. The effect of gender on the perception variables was also moderated by information similarity. Discussion addresses a dual-process approach to the study of participation.

"In this comprehensive, advanced introduction to group communication, the field's leading experts summarize theory, methodological advancements, and current research in the field. This book follows a coherent structure specifying clear objectives and evidence-based practical implications for the management of groups. Each chapter provides case study examples highlighting the role of communication for group functioning. The textbook takes a particular look at recent advancements in the research on virtual teams, the role of technology in group communication, and issues of diversity and inclusion, considering group communication in various situations including health and organizational contexts. It features theory-driven descriptions, an emphasis on empirical findings, and reflections on research methods. The book is an integrative and coherent textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate group communication classes and a useful reference for students, scholars, and group communication professionals across different disciplines including communication studies, psychology, life sciences, business administration, management, and engineering. Online resources include a sample course syllabus, discussion questions, lecture slides and a test-bank. They are available at www.routledge.com/9781032114712"

"In this comprehensive, advanced introduction to group communication, the field's leading experts summarize theory, methodological advancements, and current research in the field. This book follows a coherent structure specifying clear objectives and evidence-based practical implications for the management of groups. Each chapter provides case study examples highlighting the role of communication for group functioning. The textbook takes a particular look at recent advancements in the research on virtual teams, the role of technology in group communication, and issues of diversity and inclusion, considering group communication in various situations including health and organizational contexts. It features theory-driven descriptions, an emphasis on empirical findings, and reflections on research methods. The book is an integrative and coherent textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate group communication classes and a useful reference for students, scholars, and group communication professionals across different disciplines including communication studies, psychology, life sciences, business administration, management, and engineering. Online resources include a sample course syllabus, discussion questions, lecture slides and a test-bank. They are available at www.routledge.com/9781032114712"--