Hello all, Below is general information and call for papers regarding the 2013 Group Processes miniconference that is taking place directly prior to the American Sociological Association annual meeting in New York City. The special focus this year is "on bridging between the research traditions of group processes and the growing area of research in social media and systems of computer mediated interaction." As such, I thought some might be interested in attending. I have attended for several years and it is small (~60-80) and well-organized, always including cutting edge research and lively discussions. Group processes research primarily focuses on social-psychological theories, especially formal theories that involve small groups and interpersonal interaction. A special session (usually in the format of roundtables) reserved for graduate students is a particularly good opportunity for student scholars to receive support and feedback. Please contact the conference organizers for additional information. Thanks, Daniel ________________________________ Daniel B. Shank, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Fellow Department of Sociology University of Alabama at Birmingham http://ua-birmingham.academia.edu/DanielShank dbshank@uab.edu 205-975-3703 ________________________________ ________________________________ From: h.t.welser@gmail.com [h.t.welser@gmail.com] on behalf of Howard Welser [welser@ohio.edu] Sent: Friday, March 01, 2013 2:16 PM To: Howard Welser Subject: Twenty Fifth Anniversary Conference on Group Processes Twenty Fifth Anniversary Conference on Group Processes We are planning an exciting program for the Twenty Fifth Anniversary Group Processes Conference in New York August 9. The event, which immediately precedes ASA 2013, will take place either in the ASA conference space or in an alternative venue in the Chelsea neighborhood depending on availability. The conference will celebrate the accomplishments of researchers of group processes over the last 25 years while looking forward to exciting new developments in the field. The special focus of the conference is on bridging between the research traditions of group processes and the growing area of research in social media and systems of computer mediated interaction. Scholars in several major areas of research in groups processes will set the stage in the morning program: * Joseph Berger and Morris Zelditch; Expectation states theory * Dawn Robinson and Neil MacKinnon; Affect control theory * Ed Lawler and Shane Thye; Rational choice and cohesion * Peter Burke and Jan Stets; Identity theory * David Willer; Elementary theory and network structure * Linda Molm; Reciprocity and punishment in networks The afternoon program will focus on building new research opportunities in theories of group processes, especially utilizing data from social media and computer mediated interaction. Participants with backgrounds in social networks, group processes, rational choice, computer mediated interaction, information science, and related areas are invited to participate through a series of presentations, roundtables and panel discussions. We solicit three types of papers: * Current research in group processes: are research papers that build from research programs in groups processes that have provided so much vitality and direction over the past twenty five years. We would like authors to consider both new theoretical and methodological avenues for advancing our understanding of how individual and group processes affect human behavior. * New opportunities: are concept papers on opportunities for research synergy at the intersection of group processes and social media. These short, 1500-2000 word, papers will be discussed in round table sessions and will, upon revision and extension be candidates for a competitive peer reviewed special issue or edited book. * Graduate student research reports: are short papers that describe current graduate student work. These reports can include solo as well as collaborative work, but should highlight the contributions of graduate student researchers. Work testing theories of group processes, studying dynamics in social media, and work that bridges these areas are all welcome. Deadline for paper submissions is Wednesday April 3rd, 2013. We encourage participation from members of the group processes community, sociologists in related areas of research attending ASA, and especially researchers and professionals working in the areas of social media and online community. Please share this invitation with interested scholars and check the 25th Anniversary Blog for updates. We will be adding more details to the conference planning soon. Contact Bob Shelly or Ted Welser with questions or suggestions. (shelly at ohio.edu<http://ohio.edu>; welser at ohio.edu<http://ohio.edu>) Blog url: http://groupprocesses2013.blogspot.com/ Looking forward to a great conference: , Bob Shelly, Ann Shelly, Dave Wagner, and Ted Welser -- Howard T. Welser Assistant Professor Department of Sociology & Anthropology Ohio University Bentley Annex 109 Athens, Ohio 45701 Google Voice: 740.249.9494 Office: 740.593.1364 Profile: https://sites.google.com/site/professorwelser/home