Reflection Of A Study Group

At the beginning of last semester, one of our course Professors suggested to the class that we form a study group. The purpose of the group was brainstorm ideas relating to our course and learn from each other’s culture. Four students came together as a learning group by lottery picking. A group is defined as “a collection of individuals that have shared common interests or experiences.” A group develops relationships and generates an energy, or identity, that is different together than when individuals are by themselves or with others. On the first day, which was the forming stage, where the group got together and it was characterized with anxiety and uncertainty. Individual members were gathering information and impressions - about each

T the leader, remaindered all the members to show up and to do the required preparation prior to any group meeting. He reiterated, if we show up unprepared it will impact how effective that session is for the whole group, not to mention what you could get out of those sessions. The group was a democratically organized one since all the members were involved in setting up the rules and norms that were governing our study group. On the second week of our meeting, as members started to work together, and as we tried to get to know each other again. One significant thing about this group was that it was a closed group and it has a fixed number of group members and has a set duration and not accepting new members. One noteworthy interesting thing about our group was gender inequality as there was only one female in the group. The expectations as to what is acceptable behavior in the classroom is just one step in redefining the concept of what it means to be a

Individual members conform to the expectations of a social role that was assigned by the leader. Members witnessed social influence that resulted in a change of behavior or belief to fit in with a group. None of our group member talked or sent a text while meetings were in session. These were a clear changes in attitudes and behaviors to match the attitudes and behaviors of the people around us. Most of the time, people are motivated to do the right thing. If society deems that we put litter in a proper container, speak softly in libraries, and tip our waiter, then that’s what most of us will do. There was a clear case of adequate preparation on the part of each member of the group before we met for group studies. There were total contributions from each one on like the early stages where only person dominated in the