0020 - 32nd Annual Group Processes Conference

Session Submission Type: Preconference

Description

For three decades, the group processes research community has held an annual conference with multiple agendas. First, it offers an opportunity for researchers interested in basic social processes to present theoretical, methodological, and empirical advances in group processes research to an expert community in highly discussion-oriented sessions. Second, the conference stimulates dialogue and cross-fertilization between the different traditions of group-focused sociological research. Third, this conference places a premium on mentoring younger scholars – including graduate students in all aspects of the program and offering early scholars an opportunity to present work-in-progress to senior scholars in workshop like sessions. Fourth, the conference engages with scholars outside the subfield in order to foster intellectual connections with scholarship beyond the group processes traditions. This is a primary motivator for convening adjacent to the ASA meetings. The conference program generally is a combination of open-submission sessions focused on empirical developments, invited panels focused on methodological and theoretical advances, and roundtables where graduate students/early scholars present their work in progress to senior scholars – often over lunch.

We are committed to organizing the preconference around the best new group processes research. We will prioritize open-submissions and organize the sessions accordingly. The attached agenda describes an outline of sessions we anticipate might result from this year’s call. Following the 2019 ASA’s theme of “Engaging Social Justice for a Better World” we will especially encourage submissions describing research on justice, cross-cultural and global research, and research revealing pathways toward solving social problems. Group processes theory and research on emotions, culture, justice, power, status, identity, trust, and group cohesion are all well-positioned to help sociology reveal the foundations of injustice, inequality, and conflict – as well as potentially successful interventions. In keeping with the strengths of the tradition, we hope to highlight the effectiveness of discovering theory-driven solutions to societal concerns.

Sub Unit

• Preconference

Session Organizers

• Dawn T. Robinson, University of Georgia

• Jody Clay-Warner, University of Georgia

• Justine Eatenson Tinkler, University of Georgia

• Daniel B. Shank, Missouri University of Science & Technology