A presentation based on a research done among university students. It deals with group psychology and criteria people use for making new friendships.

1. GROUP COMMUNICATION
Accepting new members into an
existing group of friends
Research and presentation by Lamija Herceg and Sara
Spahic
Communication and
Reporting

2. Presentation outline
Historical background
Sociological background
Hypothesis and research methods
Survey results analysis
Conclusion

3. Historical background

4. Sociological background
 Group membership satisfies the need to belong
 Peer group – group of people who have similar
interests, age, background and social status
 Advantages of peer groups:
 Provide a secure social environment
 Serve as a source of information
 Teach unity and collective behavior in life
 Identity formation

5. Research
 HYPOTHESIS:
People hang out in groups with same
people and hardly accept new members in
their group
 Two surveys among students
 Online and personal
 67 and 109 responses

6. SURVEYS RESULTS AND
ANALYSIS

7. 76%
24%
Which option do you
prefer when hanging out
with your friends?
In a group Individually
77%
23%
Do you usually hang out
with same people every
day or different people
every day?
Same people Different people

8. 3
7
27
24
6
How often do you meet
new people?
Very frequently Frequently
Occasionally Rarely
Very rarely
13
25
22
6
1
How often do you become
close friends with people
you meet?
Very frequently Frequently
Occasionally Rarely
Very rarely

9. 26%
14%60%
How do you most
usually meet new
people?
I approach them myself
I wait until they approach me
Someone I already know
introduces me to them
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
How many close friends
do you have?

10. 0
5
10
15
20
25
How do you feel when a
new friend is introduced to
your group of close
friends?
Annoyed
Excited
Happy
I distance
myself
Indifferent
Jealous
Other
18%
82%
Do you feel threatened
when your close friends
acquire new friends?
Yes No

11. 67%
33%
Supposing that you
have a close group of
friends you usually
hang out with, would
you easily accept a new
member to join your
group?
Yes No
0
20
40
60
What is the criteria you use
when establishing new
friendships?
Appereance
Gender
Religion or nationality
Sense of humor
Age

12. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Why would it be hard to accept new members into
an already formed group of friends?
Shared history, in-side
jokes and comfort the
group already has
Different opinions and
ideas
Activities already
established in the
group
Level of education or
wealth
Communication style
developed in a group
Other

13. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
In your group of friends you wouldn’t accept
someone who… ?
wants to change our
habits
doesn't like our
activities
isn't polite
wants to take
advantage of us
wants to know
everything
never provides an
opposing opinion

14. Conclusion
 People usually hang out in groups with same
people
 They are willing to accept a new member if
they meet certain criteria
 The biggest barrier for entering an existing
group of friends are the shared history, inside
jokes and comfort already developed in a
group

15. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION!
Feel free to ask any
questions.