Article
The Effects of Race and Gender of Group Leader on the Responses of African-American Children in a Group Setting
Journal of Applied Sociology
(1996)
Abstract
Practitioners working with groups have been interested in the effects of race and gender on group outcomes since the 1980s. This study focuses on the responses of African-American children to the race and gender of group leaders in a small group setting. Seventy-seven groups which were led by African-American and white men and women were observed over a two-year period. Group behavior was scored for positive reactions, negative reactions, and disruptive behavior. Major findings were: groups that had a higher proportion of girls responded more positively; larger groups tended to display more disruptive behavior; older children displayed more negative responses; men elicited more positive reactions and women elicited more negative reactions; and white men and African-American women elicited the most disruptive behavior. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for sociological practice.
Keywords
- social work,
- African American children
Disciplines
Publication Date
1996
Citation Information
Nancy Shields and Lois Pierce. "The Effects of Race and Gender of Group Leader on the Responses of African-American Children in a Group Setting" Journal of Applied Sociology Vol. 13 Iss. 1 (1996) p. 56 - 76 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/lois-pierce/28/