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Chair of Research on Group Processes

Institute of Sociology

Jagiellonian University (1989-2006)

My former workplace, Institute of Sociology (IS UJ) is one of 5 institutes (departments) which make up the Philosophical Faculty of the Jagiellonian University. IS currently consists of 8 chairs (chair seems to be the most adequate translation of zakład). The 9th Chair in which I worked until the end of academic year 2005/2006, namely, the Chair of Research on Group Processes (Zakład Badania Procesów Grupowych), started life in 1989 as Microsociological Laboratory. The Lab founded by Jacek Szmatka was later (as of February 1st, 1996) promoted to the rank of a chair. After Jacek's untimely death (October 20, 2001), the chair worked under temporary supervision of Professor Marian Niezgoda. For the lack of habilitation (a sort of a second doctorate that is required in Poland of candidates for the position of associate professor and head of chair), I could not succeed Jacek as head of his research center.


The history of the Chair of Research on Group Processes came to an end September 30th, 2006, yet the Laboratory for Experimental Research of Group Processes still exists, now as part of the Chair of Social Research Methodology. After the expiration of my last job contract I got a position of assistant professor in the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at Kraków's Pedagogical University (Akademia Pedagogiczna; English version of its website is still under construction).


Questions concerning current state and future research plans of the Lab should now be addressed to Joanna Heidtman. Here you will find the synopsis of past events and activities as well as the list of books and papers published over the Chair's lifetime (1989-2006) by Jacek Szmatka and his team members.


Tadeusz Sozański


October 1, 2006



HISTORY OF THE CHAIR OF RESEARCH ON GROUP PROCESSES


1989-1990


The history of the Chair of RGP dates back to the beginning of the academic year 1989/90. Jacek Szmatka, who had by then been affiliated with the Chair of Theoretical Sociology (headed by Professor Piotr Sztompka), was appointed, as of October 1st, 1989, head of the Microsociological Laboratory. He founded a new research center with the aim to carry out experiments on group processes according to the methodological patterns he had learned from David Willer, his mentor and friend from the University of South Carolina. Jacek, then known in his country as the author of the first Polish handbook of microsociology (Małe struktury społeczne [Small Social Structures], Warsaw 1989), turned from a general methodologist and grand theorist into experimenter. The aim of his first experiments, done in 1989-1990 with the help of his first collaborator Izabella Uhl (she left the Jagiellonian University in 1994 or somewhat later), was to test Willer's Elementary Theory in a different national setting (see WILLER, SZMATKA 1993; SZMATKA, WILLER, UHL 1996; SZMATKA 1997).

I decided to join Jacek and Iza as the third member of their research team when I came back (in February 1990) from the USA and saw my colleagues doing experiments in room 49 at 52 Grodzka Street. Advanced experimental studies of power development in exchange networks became possible no earlier than in 1995 when the Lab was equipped with a local computer network and appropriate software. Before 1991 we were armed only with a table, seats and dividers as well as one 8 bit computer. When I noticed that the smart typewriter could also be used to run programs written in Basic programming language, I wrote a program managing a negotiation session for an experiment which I had designed as a replication of Willer's experiment on hierarchical exchange systems (SOZAŃSKI 1993b; unfortunalely, an English version of this paper is not available).


1991-1993


(the full text of the Chair's history should be ready for 5th anniversary of Jacek Szmatka's passing away)



PUBLICATIONS


Books


1989


SZMATKA J. Małe struktury społeczne. Wstęp do mikrosocjologii strukturalnej [Small Social Structures. An Introduction to Structural Microsociology]. Warszawa 1989: PWN. Pp. 455.


Edited books


2002


SZMATKA J., M. LOVAGLIA, and K. WYSIEŃSKA (Eds.) The Growth of Social Knowledge. Theory, Simulation, and Empirical Research in Group Processes. Westport, CT-London 2002: Praeger. Pp. 299


1998


SKVORETZ J. and J. SZMATKA (Eds.) Advances in Group Processes. Vol. 15. Greenwich, CT 1998: JAI Press. Pp. ??


1997


SZMATKA J., J. SKVORETZ, and J. BERGER (Eds.) Status, Network, and Structure. Theory Development in Group Processes. Stanford, CA 1997: Stanford University Press. Pp. 467


1993


SOZAŃSKI T., J. SZMATKA, and M. KEMPNY (Eds.) Struktura, wymiana, władza. Studia z socjologii teoretycznej [Structure, Exchange, and Power. Studies in Theoretical Sociology]. Warsaw 1993: IFiS PAN Publishers. Pp. 309


SZMATKA J., Z. MACH, and J. MUCHA (Eds.) Eastern European Societies at the Threshold of Change. New York 1993: The Edwin Mellen Press. Pp. ??


1992


KEMPNY M. and J. SZMATKA (Eds.) Współczesne teorie wymiany społecznej [Contemporary Social Exchange Theories. Selected Readings]. Warszawa 1992: PWN. Pp. 492.


SZMATKA J. (Ed.) Elementy mikrosocjologii. Wybór tekstów Część II [Elements of Microsociology. Selected Readings. Part II]. Kraków 1992: Jagiellonian University Press. Pp. 254


1991


J. MUCHA, G. SKĄPSKA, J. SZMATKA, and I. UHL (Eds.) Społeczeństwo polskie u progu przemian [Polish Society at the Threshold of Change]. Wrocław-Kraków: Ossolineum. Pp. 374.



Articles in refereed journals or edited books



2006


SOZAŃSKI T. (a) On the Core of Characteristic Function Games Associated with Exchange Networks. Social Networks 28 (2006): 397–426.


SOZAŃSKI T. (b) A Graph-Theoretic Characterization of the Core in a Generalized Assignment Game. Pp. 275–290 in A. Wieczorek, M. Malawski, A. Wiszniewska-Matyszkiel (Eds.). Game Theory and Mathematical Economics. Banach Center Publications, vol. 71. Warszawa 2006: Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mathematics.


2005


HEIDTMAN J. Typy grup społecznych [Types of Social Groups]. Pp. 357-361 in Encyklopedia Socjologii [Encyclopedia of Sociology]. Suplement [The Supplement]. Warsaw 2005: Oficyna Naukowa.


2004


HEIDTMAN J. Oczekiwania, status i perswazja w grupach zadaniowych [Expectations, Status, and Persuasion in Task Groups]. Pp. 403-415 in Sztuka perswazji. Socjologiczne, psychologiczne i lingwistyczne aspekty komunikowania perswazyjnego. Ed. by R. Garpiel, K. Leszczyńska. Kraków 2004: Nomos


2002


HEIDTMAN J. Strukturalne i indywidualne mechanizmy powstawania i dystrybucji władzy w sieciach konfliktu [Structural and Individual Mechanisms of Power Development and Distribution in Conflict Networks]. Studia Socjologiczne 2002 no. 1 (164): 7-42.


SOZAŃSKI T. (a) Sieć społeczna [Social Network]. Pp. 28-36 in Encyklopedia Socjologii , vol. IV. Warsaw 2002: Oficyna Naukowa.


SOZAŃSKI T. (b) Socjologia matematyczna. [Mathematical Sociology]. Pp. 73-79 in Encyklopedia Socjologii, vol. IV. Warsaw 2002: Oficyna Naukowa.


SZMATKA J. Teoria w socjologii [Theory in Sociology]. Pp. 211-218 in Encyklopedia Socjologii, vol. IV. Warsaw 2002: Oficyna Naukowa.


SZMATKA J. and M. KEMPNY. Teorie wymiany społecznej [Theories of Social Exchange]. Pp. 223-231 in Encyklopedia Socjologii, vol. IV. Warsaw 2002: Oficyna Naukowa.


SZMATKA J., D. WAGNER, and K. WYSIEŃSKA. Teoria stanów oczekiwań [Expectation States Theory]. Pp. 200-207 in Encyklopedia Socjologii, vol. IV. Warsaw 2002: Oficyna Naukowa.


WYSIEŃSKA K. and J. SZMATKA. Positivism and Theory Construction in Group Processes. Pp. 77-96 in Szmatka, Lovaglia, Wysieńska, Eds. 2002.



2001


WYSIEŃSKA K., P. WOJTCZUK, and Z. KARPIŃSKI. Teoria i eksperyment w socjologii [Theory and Experiment in Sociology]. Studia Socjologiczne 2001 no. 1 (160): 81-114.


2000


HEIDTMAN J., K. WYSIEŃSKA, and J. SZMATKA. Positivism and Types of Theories in Sociology. Sociological Focus 33 (2000): 1-26.


SZMATKA J. Rola społeczna [Social Role]. Pp. 321-326 in Encyklopedia Socjologii, vol. III. Warsaw 2000: Oficyna Naukowa.


WYSIEŃSKA K. and SZMATKA J. Polish and Eastern European Sociology. Pp. 2116-2123 in E. Borgatta, Editor in Chief. Encyclopedia of Sociology. 2nd Edition, vol. 3. New York 2000: Macmillan


1998


MAZUR J. (Heidtman) Grupa społeczna [Social Group]. Pp. 260-267 in Encyklopedia Socjologii, vol. I. Warsaw 1998: Oficyna Naukowa.


SOZAŃSKI T. Socjologia teoretyczna jako nauka normalna [Theoretical Sociology as a Normal Science]. Studia Socjologiczne 1998 no. 4 (151): 5-38.


SZMATKA J. and J. MAZUR (Heidtman). Power Distribution in Conflict Networks: An Extension of Elementary Theory to Conflict Networks. Pp. 187-211 in Advances in Group Processes. Vol. 15. Edited by J. Skvoretz and J. Szmatka. Greenwich, CT 1998: JAI Press.


SZMATKA J., J. SKVORETZ, T. SOZAŃSKI, and J. MAZUR (Heidtman). Conflict in Networks. Sociological Perspectives 41 (1998): 49-66.



1997


SOZAŃSKI T. Toward a Formal Theory of Equilibrium in Network Exchange Systems. Pp. 303-350 in Szmatka, Skvoretz, and Berger, Eds. 1997.


SZMATKA J. Testing Elementary Theory for Universality. Pp. 87-109 in Szmatka, Skvoretz, and Berger, Eds. 1997.


WILLER D. and J. SZMATKA. Structural Formulations and Elementary Theory. Pp. 273-292 in Szmatka, Skvoretz, and Berger, Eds. 1997.


1996


SZMATKA J. and M.J. LOVAGLIA. The Significance of Method. Sociological Perspectives 39 (1996): 393-415.


SZMATKA J., M. LOVAGLIA, and J. MAZUR (Heidtman). Znaczenie metody w rozwoju teorii socjologicznej. Modyfikacja koncepcji Bergera, Wagnera i Zelditcha kumulatywnego rozwoju wiedzy socjologicznej [The Significance of Method in Theory Growth. A Modification of Berger, Wagner and Zelditch's Conception of Cumulative Growth of Sociological Knowledge]. Studia Socjologiczne 1996 no. 2: 55-85.


SZMATKA J. and J. MAZUR (Heidtman). Orienting Strategies, Working Strategies, and Theoretical Research Programs in Social Exchange Theory. Polish Sociological Review1996 no. 3 (115): 265-288.


SZMATKA J., D. WILLER, and Izabela UHL. Strukturalne determinanty władzy w sieciach wymian. Międzykrajowy test uniwersalności teorii [Structural Determinants of Power in Exchange Networks. Cross-national Test of Theory Universality]. Studia Socjologiczne 1996 no. 3 (142): 59-90.


WILLER D., B. SIMPSON, J. SZMATKA, and J. MAZUR (Heidtman). Social Theory and Historical Explanation. Humboldt Journal of Social Relations 22 (1996): 63-84.


1995


SOZAŃSKI T. Co to jest nauka? [What is Science?]. Pp. 23-50 in J. Goćkowski, S. Marmuszewski. Eds. Nauka. Tożsamość i tradycja [Science. Identity and Tradition]. Kraków 1995: Universitas.


SZMATKA J. and D. WILLER. Exclusion, Inclusion and Compound Connection in Exchange Networks. Social Psychology Quarterly 58 (1995): 123-132.


1994


SOZAŃSKI T. Analiza strukturalna konfliktu interesów w elementarnych systemach społecznych [Structural Analysis of Conflict of Interests in Elementary Social Systems]. Studia Socjologiczne 1994 no. 3-4 (134-135): 123-171.


SZMATKA J. and T. SOZAŃSKI. On Four Myths of Sociology and Three Generations of Sociological Theories. Polish Sociological Review 1994 no. 3(107): 219-233.


1993


SOZAŃSKI T. (a) Próba formalizacji sieciowej teorii wymiany [A Tentative Formalization of Network Exchange Theory]. Pp. 149-193 in Sozański, Szmatka, Kempny (Eds.) 1993.


SOZAŃSKI T. (b) Hierarchiczne systemy wymian. Powtórzenie eksperymentu Davida Willera [Hierarchical Exchange Systems. A Replication of an Experiment Done by David Willer]. Pp. 233-271 in Sozański, Szmatka, Kempny (Eds.) 1993.


STRUKOWSKI-KOZIEŃ W. Dynamika struktury społecznej [The Dynamics of Social Structure]. Pp. 101-148 in Sozański, Szmatka, Kempny (Eds.) 1993.


SZMATKA J. and T. SOZAŃSKI. O czterech mitach socjologii i trzech generacjach teorii socjologicznych [see Szmatka, Sozański 1994]. Pp. 9-28 in Sozański, Szmatka, Kempny. (Eds.) 1993


SZMATKA J. and D. WILLER. W kierunku teoretycznego programu badawczego dynamiki struktury społecznej [Towards a Theoretical Research Program of the Dynamics of Social Structure]. Pp. 29-71 in Sozański, Szmatka, Kempny (Eds.) 1993.


UHL I. Co to jest `teoria elementarna'? [What is the 'Elementary Theory']. Pp. 73-99 in Sozański, Szmatka, Kempny (Eds.) 1993.


WILLER D. and J. SZMATKA. Cross-National Experimental Investigations of Elementary Theory: Implications for the Generality of the Theory and the Autonomy of Social Structure. Pp. 37-81 in Advances in Group Processes. vol. 10. Edited by B. Markovsky et. al. Greenwich, CT 1993: JAI Press.


1992


SOZAŃSKI T. A Combinatorial Theory of Minimal Social Situations. Journal of Mathematical Sociology 17 (1992): 105-125.


SZMATKA J. (a) Emergentny strukturalizm socjologiczny: w kierunku strukturalistycznej mikrosocjologii [Emergent Sociological Structuralism. Toward Structural Microsociology]. Pp. 7-50 in Szmatka (Ed.) 1992.


SZMATKA J. (b) Polish Sociology. Pp. 1471-1477 in Borgatta E. and M. Borgatta. Eds. The Encyclopedia of Sociology, vol. 3. New York 1992: Macmillan.


1991


STRUKOWSKI-KOZIEŃ W. Emergentny strukturalizm socjologiczny - redukcyjny czy systemowo-strukturalny schemat wyjaśniania [Emergent Sociological Structuralism - A Reductionist or a System-Structural Explanation Scheme?]. Studia Socjologiczne 1991 no. 1-2 (120-121): 161-179.


SZMATKA J. and I. UHL. Polskie społeczeństwo i socjologia - perspektywy i alternatywy rozwoju [Polish Society and Polish Sociology - Prospects and Alternatives for the Development]. Pp. 355-371 in Mucha et al. (Eds.) 1991.


SZMATKA J. and C.K. WARRINER. The Search for a Structural Paradigm in Sociology. Dialogue and Humanism 1 (1991): 109-132.


UHL I. "Podmiotowość" i "wolność" w refleksji socjologicznej ["Subjectivity" and "Freedom" in Sociological Reflection]. Studia Socjologiczne 1991 no. 1-2 (120-121): 41-50.



1990


SZMATKA J. The Relation Between Group Structure and Intra-Group Tensions and Conflict. International Journal of Group Tensions 20 (1990): 3-29.


1989


KEMPNY M. and J. SZMATKA. Dylematy współczesnych teorii wymiany społecznej [Dilemmas of Contemporary Social Exchange Theories]. Studia Socjologiczne 1989 no. 4: 5-33.


SZMATKA J. (a) Reduction in the Social Sciences: The Future or Utopia? Philosophy of the Social Sciences 19 (1989): 425-444.


SZMATKA J. (b) Individualism, Holism, Reductionism. International Sociology 4 (1989):169-186.


SZMATKA J. (c) Czy kryzys w mikrosocjologii? [Is There a Crisis in Microsociology?]. Studia Socjologiczne 1989 no.1: 11-36.



SZMATKA J. (d) O tzw. kryzysie w socjologii małych grup społecznych [On the So Called Crisis in Sociology of Small Groups]. Pp. in W. KWAŚNIEWICZ (Ed.) Teoretyczne orientacje we współczesnej socjologii [Theoretical Orientations in Contemporary Sociology]. Kraków 1989: Głos.


Conferences


Fourth International Conference on Theory and Research in Group Processes and Social Psychology. Kraków, June 23-25, 2004. Co-organized by ISA RC 42 (Social Psychology).


Third International Conference on Theory and Research in Group Processes. Kraków, June 14-17, 1999. Organizers: Jacek SZMATKA (Jagiellonian University), Murray WEBSTER (University of North Carolina), and Joseph BERGER (Stanford University).


Theory Development and Theory Testing in Group Processes (2nd International Conference), Vancouver, August 17-18, 1998. Organizers: Martha FOSCHI (University of British Columbia) and Jacek SZMATKA (Jagiellonian University).


Socjologia 1997: stan dyscypliny [Sociology 1997 - State of the Discipline]. Ist Symposium (semiplenary session) at X Ogólnopolski Zjazd Socjologiczny [Xth All Polish Sociological Congress], Katowice, September 22-25, 1997. Symposium organizer: Jacek SZMATKA.


First International Conference on Theory and Research in Group Processes. Kraków, June 18-21, 1996. Organizers: Jacek SZMATKA (Jagiellonian University) and John SKVORETZ (University of South Carolina).


Theory Use and Theory Development. Conference with 4 work group sessions, organized at the 31st Congress of the International Institute of Sociology, Paris, Sorbonne, June 21-25, 1993. Organizers: Jacek SZMATKA (Jagiellonian University) and David WILLER (University of South Carolina).


Paper presentations


(paper titles omitted, multi-authored papers are listed at first author only)


J. SZMATKA. American Sociological Association Annual Meetings, 96th, 94th, 92nd 87th (Anaheim, CA 2001, Chicago 1999, Toronto 1997, New York 1996, Washington 1995, Los Angeles 1994, Miami Beach 1993, Pittsburgh 1992) ● Sunbelt Network Conferences XVII, XIV, XIII (San Diego 1997, New Orleans 1994, Tampa 1993) ● World Congress of the International Institute of Sociology, 31st, 30th, 29th (Paris 1993, Kobe 1991, Rome 1989) ● XI Ogólnopolski Zjazd Socjologiczny [XIth All-Polish Sociological Congress] (Rzeszów 2000) ● 8th Annual Group Processes Conference (Chicago 1995) ● 3rd International Conference on Theory and Research in Group Processes (Kraków 1999).


T. SOZAŃSKI. 13th World Congress of Sociology (Bielefeld 1994) ● 93rd ASA Annual Meetings(San Francisco 1998) ● 31st World Congress of International Institute of Sociology (Paris 1993) ● International Conference on Social Networks(=XV Sunbelt Conference, London 1995) ● XI i X Ogólnopolski Zjazd Socjologiczny [XIth and Xth All-Polish Sociological Congress] (Rzeszów 2000, Katowice 1997) ● 1st, 3rd, and 4th International Conference on Theory and Research in Group Processes (Kraków 1999, 1996, 2004) ● International Conference on Game Theory and Mathematical Economics (Warsaw 2004).


J. HEIDTMAN. ASA Annual Meetings, 97th, 96th (Chicago 2002, Anaheim, CA 2001) ● 3rd and 4th International Conference on Theory and Research in Group Processes (Kraków 1999, 2004) ● Theory Development and Theory Testing in Group Processes(Vancouver 1998).


K. WYSIEŃSKA: ASA Annual Meetings 95th, 94th (Washington 2000, Chicago 1999) ● 34th World Congress of the International Institute of Sociology (Tel Aviv 1999) ● 14th Annual Group Processes Conference (Anaheim, CA 2001) ● 3rd and 4th International Conference on Theory and Research in Group Processes (Kraków 1999, 2004).



Research grants


2003-06. KBN (Polish National Committee for Scientific Research) research grant no: 2 H02E 006 25. Project title: “The effects of actors’ cognitive processes on the dynamic of power distribution in mixed relations and conflict networks.” Investigators: J. Heidtman, K, Wysieńska.


2002. Foundation for Polish Science. Supporting grant no. 1/02 for J. Heidtman.


2000-03, KBN doctoral dissertation research grant no: 1 H02E 008 19. Project title: “Power and Influence in Social Structure. New Theoretical Research Program.” PhD. Student Principal Investigator: K. Wysieńska; faculty advisor:J. Szmatka.



2000-01. KBN infrastructure grant no. IA 1197/2000 aimed at laboratory upgrade for the project: "Power and Influence in Social Structure. New Theoretical Research Program."



1998-99. KBN research grant no. 1 H02E 001 14. Project title: "Konflikt w sieciach społecznych. Teoria i badania eksperymentalne" [Conflict in Social Networks. Theory and Experimental Research]. Principal investigator: J. Szmatka. Collaborators: J. Heidtman (research for Ph.D. thesis), T. Sozański.


1994-96. KBN research grant no. 1P109 034 07. Project title: "Sieciowa teoria interakcji. Nowe badania nad efektami władzy w sieciowych systemach społecznych" [Network Interaction Theory. New Research on Power Effect in Network Social Systems]. Principal investigator: J. Szmatka. Collaborator: T. Sozański.


1991-93. KBN research grant no. 1 0112 91 01. Project title: "Toward a Theoretical Research Program of the Dynamics of Social Structure." Principal investigator: J. Szmatka. Collaborator (first editor of 'Exchange, Networks, and Power'): T. Sozański.



Membership in professional associations


J. SZMATKA. International Institute of Sociology, 1985-2001, Councilor, 1991-98 ● Polish Sociological Association, 1972-2001, President of Kraków Branch, 1987-1990, 1997-1999, member of the Kraków Branch executive committee, 1980-1984, member of the PSA executive committee, 1983-1986, 1988-1991, 1998-2001 ● American Sociological Association, 1991-2001.


T. SOZAŃSKI. International Network for Social Network Analysis, 2002- ● International Sociological Association, 1994- , member of RC 42 (Social Psychology), 1994- , member of RC 42 Board, 1994-2002, member of RC 45 (Rational Choice), 2002- ● Polish Sociological Association, 1978- , Kraków Branch vice-president, 1986, 1990, 1995, Kraków Branch secretary, 1979, 1980, member of the PSA Audit Committee, 1993-95, member of the PSA Court of Honor, 1997-2002.


J. HEIDTMAN. Polish Sociological Association, 1996- ● American Sociological Association, 2002-.


K. WYSIEŃSKA. International Sociological Association, 2002-, member of RC 42 (Social Psychology), 2002-, newsletter editor ● American Sociological Association, 1998- ● Polish Sociological Association, 1999-.


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