Jim Davis

James H. Davis

Garfield the Great Lover

Erich H. Witte

These books grew out of the perception that a number of important conceptual and theoretical advances in research on small group behavior had developed in recent years, but were scattered in rather fragmentary fashion across a diverse literature. Thus, it seemed useful to encourage the formulation of summary accounts. A conference was held in Hamburg with the aim of not only encouraging such developments, but also encouraging the integration of theoretical approaches where possible. These two volumes are the result. Current research on small groups falls roughly into two moderately broad categories, and this classification is reflected in the two books. Volume I addresses theoretical problems associated with the consensual action of task-oriented small groups, whereas Volume II focuses on interpersonal relations and social processes within such groups. The two volumes differ somewhat in that the conceptual work of Volume I tends to address rather strictly defined problems of consensual action, some approaches tending to the axiomatic, whereas the conceptual work described in Volume II is generally less formal and rather general in focus. However, both volumes represent current conceptual work in small group research and can claim to have achieved the original purpose of up-to-date conceptual summaries of progress on new theoretical work.

Understanding Group Behavior: Consensual action by small groups

Viva Ona Bartkus

For this book Bartkus and Davis assembled the social capital equivalent of the New York Yankees slugger s row of the 1950s, recruiting some of the best Hall of Fame hitters around along with a number of future stars still early in their careers. The result is a good reflection of the current state of the literature on social capital. Robert D. Putnam, Harvard University, US Social capital is widely used and sometimes mis-used by scholars, policymakers, and the general public. The time has come for thoughtful reflection, synthesis, and informed criticism regarding this important concept. Bartkus and Davis have developed a ground-breaking collection of essays exploring the ideas and evidence underpinning social capital. Denise M. Rousseau, Carnegie Mellon University, US At heart, social capital is a simple concept that relationships matter. Bartkus and Davis foster a vibrant debate among leading scholars as to the critical definition, creation, and consequences of social capital. I commend Bartkus and Davis for their interdisciplinary efforts, for there is no more important challenge facing the social sciences today than the exploration of trust and social capital in our society. Father Theodore Hesburgh, University of Notre Dame, US Social capital has taken the social sciences by storm yet remains fraught with controversy. Despite its complexity and conceptual difficulties, the persistent interest in social capital arises from the fact that it helps us make sense of why people do what they do. This book showcases new innovative research in economics, politics, sociology, and management regarding the topic. Leading scholars from a variety of disciplines present ground-breaking new research exploring the still-undiscovered value of social capital. The book employs a self-consciously multi-disciplinary approach to address two objectives: reaching out and reaching in. Through theoretical and empirical scholarship, the authors explore the many contexts in which the phenomenon can have impact. In effect, social capital research reaches out to issues of economic well-being, civic participation, educational achievement, knowledge and norm formation, and competitive advantage. Further, the authors investigate the many connections between the core themes of social capital and the pillars on which it rests, including structural networks, cognition, relationships and trust. This book is fundamentally about bridging bridging across disciplines, units of analysis, and themes. Scholars, students, and other interested readers from the social sciences and management will find this book challenging and illuminating.

Reaching Out, Reaching In

Social Capital

Volume 1: Consensual Action By Small Groups; Volume 2: Small Group Processes and Interpersonal Relations

Understanding Group Behavior

James H. Davis

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