Social Interdependence Term Paper

Social Interdependence

Stanne M. Johnson, D.W. & Johnson, R.T. (1999) Social Interdependence and Performance and Motor Performance: A Meta-Analysis. Psychological Bulletin. 125. 134-154.

Evaluate organization and writing style of author

This article attempts to evaluate the importance of positive forms social interdependence in such psychological factors as building student self-esteem and in creating more effective educational environments for students through the medium of cooperative learning. Firstly, the article attempts to define the concept of social interdependence. Then, it examines how theoretically social interdependence functions within positive and negative fashions, how it may be quantitatively measured in terms of alliances individuals feel towards different social groups, for example, and then why it is an important concept for social scientists and educators and how it may be deployed in cooperative learning situations.

Organizationally, for a theoretical paper the use of definition, statistics, and then specifics is admirable. However, the problem with the writing style is that the authors Stanne, Johnson and Johnson are (1999) are so theoretical in their approach as to what is essentially a humanistic concept, that of social relationships and interdependence, that the text is excessively dry and difficult to apply to the lived reality of human, functional existence in a way that might be useful to educators in, for instance, creating lesson plans. Most educators already make use of some form of 'working in groups' -- how does one deploy this in a fashion to encourage social interdependence? In other words, some more detailed anecdotal examples of the functions of social interdependence would have been helpful, particularly earlier in the paper, when the concept is being defined.The authors' first statistical graph table details the distinction between negative and positive dependence as overviews, but never provides examples as to what these different conceptual hermeneutics may entail. (Stanne, Johnson & Johnson, 1999, 935) Also, there could have been more details provided when contrasting negative forms of dependence, autonomy, and positive forms of social interdependence that still foster an individual's self-esteem and sense of competence within his or her social sphere. Positive interdependence is allied with the achievement of goals and objectives, however, the article is vague as to what such goals and objectives might be, which could span the range from good grades to positive self-esteem.

Identify what you learned about writing an academic paper

The use of data is extremely important in writing a cohesive academic paper, even one that attempts to define something as ephemeral as the sense a child or individual has of interdependence upon others and upon exterior social networks. Stanne, Johnson, and Johnson's use of data is extensive, although at times difficult to apply to his discussion of social interdependence conceptually, because the amount of raw data….....