Hollingsworth, A. T.

This was prepared as the thesis required for the Master of Business
Administration degree. Secondary research has shown very little is
written on Role Theory as applied to trade and professional associations
or the functions of their chief paid officers. Application of Role
principles to a "Test" association indicated the present parameters of
Role Theory are not yet quantified to the point where they can be
considered as seriously acceptable predictors of human behavior in
associations. A number of examples illustrate its potential in the
association field.

This thesis was prepared as a descriptive study of a series of
meetings of a selected professional association to determine the
potential utility and transferability of sociometric diagnostic
techniques to voluntary organizations. Methods employed in investigating
this concept and its corollaries include: use of a
modified Bales interaction Analysis Process chart and diagnostic
review of full sound recordings of proceedings. The principle
subject investigated was the phenomenon of decision reversal in the
board of trustees. An analysis of the results of this investigation
indicates that further study of the problem could yield a diagnostic
tool of broad potential for use in the small decision making group.