Group Observation Sheet
Found in Teaching & Advising > Group Work
You will shortly be observing the behavior of a group engaging in an assigned fishbowl activity. Here are some things you may wish to look for:
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Getting started.
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Was the group clear about its task? If not, did the participants attempt to redefine it?
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What method or procedures did they use to attack the problem?
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How was the method adopted? Through the insistence of one dominant person? By group consensus (that is, talking it through without voting)? By voting? By default?
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Group behavior.
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What was the energy/enthusiasm level of the group?
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Was there high interest in the problem?
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What was the participation pattern? Did some play it safe and hold back? Did all participate with adequate consistency? Was there a dominator? Did people really listen to one another? Did anyone interrupt others consistently?
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What was the trust level in the group? Did members share feelings openly? Were members supportive (did they show concern, caring, etc.) of one another?
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Was the group marked by high esprit de corps, cohesion?
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Was there a leader in the group? If so, did this leader help or hinder progress?
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Decision making.
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Was a decision reached? If so, how?
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Was the decision arrived at through consensus, bulldozing, voting, bargaining, or what?
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Were members satisfied with the decision?
Source: Julius E. Eitington. The Winning Trainer, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2002.