Fluctuation in Psychological State during Two Encounter-Group Weekends

Abstract

Two independent studies are combined and reported here. The Cattell-Curran Psychological State Battery (seven factors) was administered on three occasions to two separate samples. One met for an encounter-group weekend in March and the other in August, 1969. On both occasions the same questions were being asked (1) do anxiety levels fluctuate in a predicted manner during encounter group experiences and (2) is it possible to detect systematic fluctuations in several, measured psychological states during these experiences? Both questions required a statement of the probability of data over occasions, so the appropriate statistical technique was judged to be analysis of variance for repeated measures. The data did not support the hypothesis that anxiery, as measured, fluctuates systematically during weekend encounter-group experiences. But, there were significant fluctuations in some of the other psychological factors.