Abstract
Functional perspectives on small discussion groups often focus on either the individual or group level of analysis, but rarely both. Following Borgatta and Bales (1953), I argue that group-level constructs are built from individual actions, and that the distribution of different interaction profiles leads to group-level assessments that are sometimes different from, but based on, assessments made at the individual level. The current study applies multilevel latent profile analysis (MLPA) to a previously published data set to identify interaction profiles at the individual level and determine whether those profiles (a) are interdependent and (b) allow for the classification of groups. MLPA identified three interaction profiles at the individual level and, based on those profiles, two classes of groups emerged. Discussion addresses the impact of the findings on conceptualizing and studying small-group interactions.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 202-225 |
Number of pages | 24 |
Journal | Human Communication Research |
Volume | 45 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 1 2019 |
Keywords
- Collective constructs
- Functional communication
- Group interaction
- Multilevel latent profile analysis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Communication
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Anthropology
- Linguistics and Language