Group Interactions
Overview: You work at FirmX and your supervisor has charged the team with analyzing group interactions from the perspective of different social sciences. You have been asked to work on a portion of the presentation that will discuss the ways in which psychology, sociology, and anthropology influence group dynamics by analyzing an issue from a group you belong to.
Deliverable(1):
Presentation (7–10 slides)
Helpful Resources:
1. Use this PPT Template
2. My Group Guide (Project Instructions > Supporting Materials > My Group Guide)
3. Key Concepts in Social Sciences (Project Instructions > Supporting Materials > Key Concepts in Social Sciences)
4. What is Anthropology? – gives an overview of anthropology and what anthropologists do.
5. Introduction to Sociology, Section 1.1: What Is Sociology? (Learning Resources > Social Sciences and Group Behavior Unit > Unit Resources: Psychological and Sociological Concepts > Reading: Introduction to Sociology, Section 1.1-1.4)
6. What is Psychology? – an article that defines psychology and gives an overview of its history and perspectives.
7. Image: Anthropology, Sociology, and Psychology – a Venn Diagram image that shows how the three social sciences are similar and different.
Coaches Tips:
1. Before you start, think about a specific group you’ve been a part of and the issues your group faced.
2. Organizing the Presentation:
a. Start by describing the group
b. Introduce the issue that the group experienced
c. Examine the issue from ALL 3 perspectives (psychology, sociology, anthropology)
3. A big part of this project is understanding the differences between Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology. Here are some very basic ways to differentiate between the 3 disciplines:
. Psychology – How an individual thinks, acts, makes decisions, etc.
i. A person choosing to take the elevator instead of the stairs
a. Sociology – How a group of people makes decisions and acts together
. People collectively face the door when riding in an elevator without discussing it
b. Anthropology – How culture and customs were created, why they are meaningful, and how they affect a group’s decisions and actions
. Examining how elevators came to be a common feature of all public buildings with more than one story, how this has created norms (like facing the door), and they allow access for persons with disabilities, etc.
