Mirror Sites:
CSUDH - Habermas - UWP

Caliifornia State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Created: September 5, 2001
Latest Update: September 5, 2001
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

Bales' Interaction Process Analysis

Copyright: Jeanne Curran and Susan R. Takata and Individual Authors: September 2001.
"Fair use" encouraged.

Bales' Interaction Process Analysis (IPA) is a classic in the study of small group interaction. His research investigates measures of leadership in small, that is, face-to-face groups. In a much simplified form the categories of observable leadership he used were:

• Instrumental leadership. Leadership focussed on getting the group's task done.

  • Giving information.

    • Explaining.
    • Summarizing.
    • Making suggestions.

  • Asking for information.

    • Asking for details.
    • Asking through hypotheticals, what if's.
    • Asking for clarification.

  • Socio-emotional leadership. Leadership focussed on holding the group together as a group.

    • Positive reinforcement.

      • Good idea remarks.
      • "Good dog" remarks.
      • Acknowledgment of individual concerns.
      • Intervention to clarify disagreements to maintain and/or reintroduce positive atmosphere.
      • Recognition of contributions to group tasks, instrumental or socio-emotional.

    • Negative socio-emotional leadership behaviors.

      • Setting rules for mutual respect when necessary.
      • Chastising violations of rules of respect.
      • Defining and/or enforcing limits on group and individual behavior.
      • Defining and/or enforcing standards for group tolerance of differences between group members.

    These behavioral measures should be useful to you in composing your written submissions for the site. Bear in mind that each of these behaviors indicates taking a leadership role in small group interaction.