Group engagement: A conceptual analysis

Abstract

Group engagement is an approach which further advances the concept of group engagement but is empirically weak in identifying those behaviours that are related to learning. A definition of group engagement which emphasized age-appropriate, functional behaviours which fall within the set curriculum has finally been developed. This approach is the most conceptually sophisticated approach, is ideologically acceptable, and has some empirical validation. Future research should concentrate on articulating clear principles to guide operationalization and validation. The development of several different operationalizations of engagement for clearly specified different purposes is recommended. Group engagement measures should be subject to greater psychometric analysis. The use of disaggregation of group engagement to analyse the behaviour of individuals and component behaviours is recommended.