Group Process Research: A Factor Analytical Study
DAVID M. HAWKINS M.D.1,
C. BRYAN NORTON M.D.1,
CARL EISDORFER M.D., PH.D.2, , and
DANIEL GIANTURCO M.D.3
1 Associate in Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C. 27706
2 Chairman and Professor of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash.
3 Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Assistant in Community Health Science, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C. 27706
In order to gain a clearer understanding of the treatment process in group therapy, the authors devised a questionnaire for observers to use in describing group sessions. After subjecting these observations to factor analysis, five distinct factors were identified and related to the behavior of the subject groups. Possibilities for further investigation include the profile of the successful group and identification of leadership style effects. It is suggested that identifying the components of each factor will aid the understanding of conditions that lead to its variation in a specific profile.
