Week Four: Group Influence Grading Form Content / Development 70% Percentage Earned XX/100 Additional Comments: All key elements of the assignment are covered in a substantive way. Group Influence This required Portfolio assignment due in Week Four will give you experience observing and interacting with people outside of the classroom. It has been designed to provide you with the opportunity to develop skills, synthesize knowledge, and integrate learning in a real world setting.  This assignment accomplishes that goal by challenging you to: · Observe a group discussing a topic of interest such as a focus group, a community public assembly, a department meeting at your workplace, or local support group · Study how the group members interact and impact one another · Analyze how the group behaviors and communication patterns influence social facilitation · Integrate your findings with evidence-based literature from journal articles, textbook, and additional scholarly sources Purpose: To provide you with an opportunity to experience a group setting and analyze how the presence of others substantially influences the behaviors of its members through social facilitation. Process: You will participate as a guest at an interest group meeting in your community to gather data for a qualitative research paper. Once you have located an interest group, contact stakeholders and explain the purpose of your inquiry. After you receive permission to participate, you will schedule a date to attend the meeting; at which time you will observe the members and document the following for your analysis: Part I · How were the people arranged in the physical environment (layout of room and seating arrangement)? · What is the composition of the group, in terms of number of people, ages, sex, ethnicity, etc.? · What are the group purpose, mission, and goals? · What is the duration of the group (short, long-term)? Explain. · Did the group structure its discussion around an agenda, program, rules of order, etc.? · Describe the structure of the group. How is the group organized? · Who are the primary facilitators of the group? · What subject or issues did the group members examine during the meeting? · What types of information did members exchange in their group? · What were the group's norms, roles, status hierarchy, or communication patterns? · What communication patterns illustrated if the group was unified or fragmented? Explain. · Did the members share a sense of identity with one another (characteristics of the group-similarities, interests, philosophy, etc.)? · Was there any indication that members might be vulnerable to Groupthink? Why or why not? · In your opinion, how did the collective group behaviors influence individual attitudes and the group's effectiveness? Provide your overall analysis. Part II Write a 1,200- to 1,500-word paper incorporating your analysis with evidence to substantiate your conclusion. Explain how you.

1. Week Four: Group Influence Grading Form
Content / Development
70%
Percentage Earned
XX/100
Additional Comments:
All key elements of the assignment are covered in a substantive
way.
Group Influence
This required Portfolio assignment due in Week Four will give
you experience observing and interacting with people outside of
the classroom. It has been designed to provide you with the
opportunity to develop skills, synthesize knowledge, and
integrate learning in a real world setting. This assignment
accomplishes that goal by challenging you to:
· Observe a group discussing a topic of interest such as a focus
group, a community public assembly, a department meeting at
your workplace, or local support group
· Study how the group members interact and impact one another
· Analyze how the group behaviors and communication patterns
influence social facilitation
· Integrate your findings with evidence-based literature from
journal articles, textbook, and additional scholarly sources
Purpose: To provide you with an opportunity to experience a
group setting and analyze how the presence of others

2. substantially influences the behaviors of its members through
social facilitation.
Process: You will participate as a guest at an interest group
meeting in your community to gather data for a qualitative
research paper. Once you have located an interest group, contact
stakeholders and explain the purpose of your inquiry. After you
receive permission to participate, you will schedule a date to
attend the meeting; at which time you will observe the members
and document the following for your analysis:
Part I
· How were the people arranged in the physical environment
(layout of room and seating arrangement)?
· What is the composition of the group, in terms of number of
people, ages, sex, ethnicity, etc.?
· What are the group purpose, mission, and goals?
· What is the duration of the group (short, long-term)? Explain.
· Did the group structure its discussion around an agenda,
program, rules of order, etc.?
· Describe the structure of the group. How is the group
organized?
· Who are the primary facilitators of the group?
· What subject or issues did the group members examine during
the meeting?
· What types of information did members exchange in their
group?
· What were the group's norms, roles, status hierarchy, or

3. communication patterns?
· What communication patterns illustrated if the group was
unified or fragmented? Explain.
· Did the members share a sense of identity with one another
(characteristics of the group-similarities, interests, philosophy,
etc.)?
· Was there any indication that members might be vulnerable to
Groupthink? Why or why not?
· In your opinion, how did the collective group behaviors
influence individual attitudes and the group's effectiveness?
Provide your overall analysis.
Part II
Write a 1,200- to 1,500-word paper incorporating your analysis
with evidence to substantiate your conclusion.
Explain how your observations relate to research studies on
norm formation, group norms, conformity, and/or social
influence.
Integrate your findings with literature from the textbook, peer-
reviewed journal articles, and additional scholarly sources.
Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.
The content is comprehensive, accurate and/or persuasive.
Major points are stated clearly, are supported by specific

4. details, examples, or analysis, and are organized logically.
Readability and Style
30%
Percentage Earned
XX/40
Additional Comments:
Paragraph transitions are present and logical, and maintain the
flow throughout the paper.
The tone is appropriate to the content and assignment.
Sentences are complete, clear, and concise.
Sentences are well-constructed, with consistently strong, varied
sentences.
Sentence transitions are present and maintain the flow of
thought.
Rules of grammar, usage and punctuation are followed where
appropriate.
Spelling is correct
The paper, including the title page, reference page, tables, and

5. appendices, follow University of Phoenix formatting guidelines
Citations of original works within the body of the paper follow
University of Phoenix writing and style guidelines.
The paper is laid out with effective use of headings, font styles,
and white space.
Total
100%
Percentage Earned
XX/140
Additional Comments:
FIN500 - Critical Thinking - Module 3