Developmental Patterns in Same-Sex and Mixed-Sex Groups

Abstract

This study investigated developmental patterns in an all-male, all-female, and a mixed-sex group. Specifically, the research asked whether there were proportional differences in the types of verbal statements made in these three groups and whetherthese proportions changed over time. A repeated measures analysis of variance revealed no significant differences between the all-male and all-female groups. Developmental patterns were the same in both groups. Significant differences were noted between same-sex groups and the mixed-sex group. The verbal behaviorof men and women was notdifferentfrom each other in the mixedsex groups. However, both men and women responded differently in the larger mixed-sex group. The identified patterns of development in the same-sex groups corresponded well to those found in previous research on group development. This was generally true in the larger mixed-sex group as well, with three exceptions. Flight, which typically decreases across time, increased in the mixed-sex group. Work expected to increase, decreased in the larger group; and pairing, expected to peak in the third phase, peaked early and late in the mixed-sex group. The study concluded that sex composition does not influence group developmental patterns. Size of group does seem to alter these patterns to some extent, however.