A CLASSIFICATION OF GROUPS 1 



CARL W. BOCK 



Introductory and historical 277 



I. The general series: a-G, b-G, c-G w-G, x-G, y-G, z-G 281 



1. Groups as stable activities 281 



2. The coefficients a, 6, c, etc 285 



3. The coefficient w 295 



4. The coefficient x 297 



5. The coefficient a 298 



6. The coefficient y 300 



7. The coefficient z 312 



8. Other analytical methods 313 



II. Conclusions 318 



INTRODUCTION 



The present study is based upon the work of Swindle 2 who 

 described and defined certain very simple and characteristic 

 movement complexes to which he gave the name groups. As a 

 provisional definition of a group he says as follows: "The simplest 

 conceivable instinctive movement (Bewegungsinstinkt) is the 

 result of the capability of an organism to react so many times 

 with a given member of the body (Koerperglied) until a definite 

 number of movements have been made" that is to say, until a 

 group of similar movements have been beat in a particular tempo, 

 amplitude, and direction. 



1 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor 

 of Philosophy in the Graduate School of the Ohio State University under the 

 title, "The Association of Voluntary Movements." 



The writer wishes to take the opportunity of expressing his obligations to his 

 observers, namely, his wife, Dr. Karl Dallenbach of Cornell University, Dr. Geo. 

 F. Arps of Ohio State University, and to Miss Ruth Miller, graduate student 

 of the latter institution; to Dr. A. P. Weiss who read the manuscript and whose 

 constant help and guidance made this work possible; more particularly, how- 

 ever, to Dr. G. F. Arps whose liberality of thought and action and constant 

 interest and attention may not be overestimated. 



2 Swindle, P. F. Zeitschrif t fiir Psychologic u. Physiologic der Smnesorgane, 

 1915, Bd. 49. 



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PSYCHOBIOLOGY, VOL. I, NO. 4 



