A Definition of Small Group Democracy
- 1 August 1992
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Small Group Research
- Vol. 23 (3) , 278-301
- https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496492233002
Abstract
This article clarifies the conceptual relationship between democracy and small group processes by providing a definition of small group democracy. A small democratic group is (a) powerful and (b) inclusive, with (c) a membership that is committed to the democratic process. A fully democratic group (d) maintains healthy, democratic relationships and (e) practices a democratic form of deliberationm including equal and adequate speaking opportunities and both comprehension and consideration. The concluding section makes recommendationsforfuture research, including the suggestion that researchers integrate theories of small group behavior with theories of democratic social change.This publication has 12 references indexed in Scilit:
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