1. Applied Homans: Rank, Interaction, and Conformity in an Informal Group.
- Author
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Schmitt, Raymond L.
- Subjects
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HYPOTHESIS , *GROUPS , *SOCIAL interaction , *LEADERS - Abstract
This article discusses the author Raymond L. Schmitt's observations from a social informal group, which supports sociologist George C. Homans hypotheses. Homans' two significant hypotheses concerning the existence of direct relationships between rank and the tendency to originate interaction, and rank and conformity to the group norms were upheld by Schmitt's observations. Schmit's first elaboration concerns Homans' hypothesized direct relationship between rank and range of interactions. His second elaboration involves the relationship of the subgroup to the total group. The author, Schmit observed the activities of an informal group of three men. They had worked with one another at one time on the same job. Although they were now working at different locations, they still interacted with one another outside of working hours. The author established that the group possessed a leadership structure. Interestingly, the leader had completely dominated the situation when he was present.
- Published
- 1967
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