Deck 7: Group Communication

Question 1

Which is NOT true of groups (as opposed to mere collections of people)?

A) Groupness develops over time.
B) Group members share a common fate.
C) Group members develop a "we" identity based on group membership.
D) None, all are true about groups.

Answer 1

None, all are true about groups.

Question 2

In a seven person group, the number of potential relationships is:

A) 7
B) 14
C) 49
D) 966

Answer 2

966

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT one of the advantages of working in groups?

A) group synergy
B) group support
C) need satisfaction
D) groupthink

Answer 3

groupthink

Question 4

Social loafing:

A) occurs when the members of a group fail to fulfill their work potential.
B) occurs in disjunctive tasks.
C) is one of the major reasons groups are highly productive.
D) increases group productivity.

Question 5

Under what circumstances is group work most effective than individual work?

A) There is substantial agreement with the group.
B) Time pressures are great and it is difficult to get group members together.
C) The decision is complex and needs an innovative, creative solution.
D) None of the Above

Question 6

Which of the following does NOT increase group productivity?

A) Members have a variety of different skills and knowledge.
B) Individual accountability.
C) An atmosphere of positive interdependence.
D) None, all of the above increase group productivity.

Question 7

Which is NOT one of the factors that will cause people to become more committed to a group?

A) The group has high status.
B) The group has the ability to get things done.
C) The group allows members to reach personal goals.
D) Group members use hidden agendas.

Question 8

According to Moreland and Levine, which of the following are experienced by groups and members during group socialization?

A) Task, topic, and relation tracks.
B) Shared stereotypes, morality beliefs, mind-guards.
C) Task, maintenance, and negative roles.
D) Evaluation, commitment, and role transitions.

Question 9

Which of the following things will cause a deeper involvement in the life of a group?

A) If task is emphasized and maintenance concerns are suppressed.
B) If the group assigns roles on the basis of group needs rather than member desires.
C) If the status of the group is high.
D) All of the above

Question 10

An idiosyncrasy credit is

A) a kind of symbolic currency earned through conformity.
B) a negative group role characterized by eccentric behavior.
C) one of the symptoms of groupthink.
D) a role transition experienced during group socialization.

Question 11

The output of the task dimension is

A) productivity.
B) social cohesion.
C) social loafing.
D) synergy.

Question 12

Which of the following roles is most useful in moving the group toward its task goals?

A) Recognition seeker.
B) Procedural technician.
C) Special-interest pleader.
D) Encourager.

Question 13

The member who asks for clarification of values associated with a group problem or decision is playing the role of

A) information seeker.
B) opinion seeker.
C) coordinator.
D) evaluator-critic.

Question 14

A group member who shows concern for others' feelings and acts to mediate disagreements is

A) fulfilling a maintenance role.
B) acting as group harmonizer.
C) increasing group cohesiveness.
D) All of the above

Question 15

The person who manipulates a group in the interests of some other group is called a

A) dominator
B) recognition seeker
C) special-interest pleader
D) help seeker

Question 16

To guard against groupthink, members should

A) become more cohesive.
B) ask a group member to play devil's advocate.
C) work to build their confidence in their own invulnerability.
D) None of the above

Question 17

In a group beset by groupthink

A) members feel a great deal of secondary tension.
B) members are so critical that the climate becomes defensive.
C) members take full advantage of group synergy.
D) members are extremely cohesive.

Question 18

Which phase is described as a conflict phase?

A) norming phase.
B) forming phase.
C) storming phase.
D) performing phase.

Question 19

Which phase of group development comes after members experience the resolution of secondary tension?

A) norming phase
B) forming phase
C) storming phase
D) performing phase

Question 20

Members of Joey's group interact awkwardly. There are periods of silence, broken by ambiguous, tentative, and occasionally uncertain comments. The group is probably experiencing which stage?

A) norming phase
B) forming phase
C) storming phase
D) performing phase

Question 21

Members of Joey's group have chosen a leader and now members are ready to settle down to work. The group is probably experiencing which phase?

A) norming phase
B) forming phase
C) storming phase
D) performing phase

Question 22

Which of the following behaviors should you avoid if you want to establish a supportive climate?

A) description
B) problem orientation
C) neutrality
D) None of the above

Question 23

Which figure comes closest to expressing the average attention span (devoted to a single topic) of a group?

A) 10 seconds.
B) l minute.
C) 5 minutes.
D) 20 minutes.

Question 24

Which is true of nominal group technique?

A) It takes full advantage of group synergy.
B) It encourages lively and unrestrained interaction.
C) It eliminates potential conflict.
D) It allows more aggressive members to overpower quieter members.

Question 25

In which kind of public discussion format do audience members split into small discussion groups after listening to a speaker, discuss the speaker's topic, and then report their results to the assembly as a whole?

A) Buzz group.
B) Symposium.
C) Forum.
D) Panel discussion.

Question 26

From the moment three or more people meet, they are a group.

Question 27

One of the necessary conditions for groupness is shared behavioral standards.

Question 28

The ideal size for a problem-solving group is twelve.

Question 29

The lower limit of a small group is four.

Question 30

Triads are much less complex than dyads.

Question 31

Group synergy is the idea that groups are often more effective than the best individuals within them.

Question 32

The need to establish identity by associating with others is called the inclusion need.

Question 33

Free riding occurs in additive tasks.

Question 34

To make a successful transition into a group, an individual must recognize and follow the norms that govern each level of membership.

Question 35

It is a good idea for group members to find the one task or maintenance role they feel most comfortable with and play only that role throughout the life of the group.

Question 36

Productivity is more important for a group than social cohesion.

Question 37

Hidden agendas are always incompatible with group goals.

Question 38

A hidden-agenda is a collective rationalization group members use to stick to an ill-advised decision even in the face of contradictory information.

Question 39

The more self-censorship a group encourages, the healthier and more productive it will be.

Question 40

Groups beset by groupthink are often characterized by an illusion of invulnerability.

Question 41

Groups beset by groupthink are often characterized by an illusion of unanimity.

Question 42

Social identity is an identity based on group membership.

Question 43

Members of groups tend to dislike other members who match the group prototype.

Question 44

During secondary tension members are quiet, tentative, and uncertain.

Question 45

During the adjourning phase expression of positive feelings and congratulation often emerge.

Question 46

Hidden profile research focuses on how and why members fail to share information.

Question 47

The trait approach to leadership says that the key to leadership lies in the personal characteristics of leaders.

Question 48

According to the functional approach, leadership can be shared and it is important to know the functions that have to be fulfilled in the group.

Question 49

According to Jack Gibbs, if you want to establish a supportive climate, you should always have a hidden agenda.

Question 50

The first step in the reflective thinking process is experiencing a felt difficulty or problem.

Question 51

Force-field analysis is a way of mapping out helping and restraining forces during problem analysis.

Question 52

One of the challenges of online groups is finding a way to develop trust.

Question 53

What are the characteristics that turn a collection of people into a group?

Question 54

Use Moreland and Levine's model of group socialization to describe the path of a typical student through college. What phases will he or she go through along the way? How does communication change as these phases are experienced?

Question 55

Name and describe three task roles, three maintenance roles, and three negative roles. Also give typical statements that someone playing each of these roles might make.

Question 56

Name the eight symptoms of groupthink. How can groups guard against them?

Question 57

Describe at least five ways an individual can avoid leadership.

Question 58

What are the steps in the Standard Agenda?

Question 59

What are the differences between a symposium, forum, panel discussion, buzz group and role- playing group? What are the responsibilities of the person running each of these kinds of groups?