"Reading" groups

There are so many choices of what to observe in groups that doing process observations is easily its own full-time task. What to do with the information? First, simply notice it, and see what patterns emerge. Then, make an inference, try it out on the group with observation or intervention, and note the reaction. If the pattern is pathological, it will re-appear until it is productively addressed.

talking patterns	who talks to whom, for how long, how often? who are high/low participators? how is silence handled? who keeps the ball rolling?
interruption patterns	who interrupts whom and how, with what response?
turn-taking	how are turns allotted, and by whom? how is speaking order negotiated? how are speaker transitions handled? how does a new speaker get to speak?
greeting/departure behaviors	how do people enter/leave the group?
leadership	who exercises influence and how, with what response? any rivalries for leadership? any autocrats? democrats? uninvolved? peacemakers?
decision-making	what types of decisions are made: majority or minority rule, consensus, self-authorized agendas, handclasps, plops? who decides how decisions are made?
sub-grouping and coalitions	any evidence of sub-grouping? is it related to topic or personalities? are there 'insiders' and 'outsiders' in the group? who sides with whom on what issues?
conflict management	avoidance? accommodation? compromise? competition? collaboration?
male/female dynamics	relative numbers? overt or covert sexism? dominant and submissive behavior patterns? sexual behaviors? quasi-courtship?
group roles	task-oriented vs. maintenance behaviors? self-oriented vs. group-oriented behaviors?
use of voice	voice tone, intensity, volume?
use of space	personal space parameters, territories, speaking distance?
movement and gestures	gestures, posture, other body movements?
touch	who touches whom, when, where, how, with what response?
face and eyes	eye contact, affect and emotion displays?
time management	how are time limits dealt with and by whom?
goal definition	are purposes of group articulated? by whom?
implicit and explicit values	how are they expressed and shared by members?
norms	any topic areas avoided in discussions? are both positive and negative feelings expressed? any norms about participation or kinds of questions allowed?
rules	under what rules does the group seem to operate? cultural? idiosyncratic? explicit? implicit? how are sanctions for rule-breaking applied?
themes	what words and phrases are repeated? what patterns of behavior emerge over and over again? what stories or activities are adopted by the group as "theirs?"
group atmosphere	is the atmosphere one of work, play, uproar, satisfaction, taking flight, sluggishness?
feelings	what evidence of feelings is there, such as anger, irritation, frustration, warmth, affection, excitement, boredom, defensiveness, competitiveness? any attempts to block expression of feelings?