A Short Study of Turn Taking in Mixed Sex, Small Group Discussion

Abstract

The study focusses upon small group talk, concentrating particularly on turn taking. In constrast to previous studies of classroom teacher directed talk, small group talk may counter the apparent dominance of males in mixed sex discussion. Having set the study in the context of previous sex differential observations, a small group of six students were recorded discussing a set of three pictures relating to the development of a village over a period ranging from the middle ages through the eighteenth century to the present day. This topic was chosen for its asexual nature and its relevance to the students'currentclasswork. Observations were made and the results tabulated of turn taking, length of turn, positive minimal responses, interruptions and tag questions, all broken down by sex, and the relative participation by male and female students was discussed and analysed. © 1990, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.