The Discourse Analysis of Collaborative Groups: Exploring the Role of Gender in Conversation.

Small all-female, all-male, and mixed-gender discussion groups were selected from among freshman composition students to discuss papers which the students had written. The use of particle markers (i.e., "well,""ok,""um," etc.) was also examined. Findings suggest that women's speech seems to be better adapted to task-oriented academic discourse than normal male conversational models. Academic discussions of the type studied require the sense of cooperation and attention to individual speakers and group tasks that the female patterns provide. However, an androgynous model, which is cooperative and supportive but also directive and assertive when necessary, also adapts well to peer group interaction. It appears that the classroom, and the instructor, specifically, can reinforce a lifetime of enculturation into gender-specific behavior. (Four figures illustrating types of discussions are included; 16 references are attached.) (SG)