Deck 9: Communicating in Groups

Question 1

Which of the following statements about group norms is accurate?

A) They develop only through formal processes.
B) They are determined by the group leader.
C) Adhering to them is healthy for a group.
D) They impede group progress

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Synergy is ______________________________________________________________.

A) the combination of factual factors that create less energy than was initially predicted
B) the multiplying force of a group of individuals working together.
C) the contextual situation that allows for group dynamics
D) an over-reliance on group norms

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Norms that evolve informally are different than ground rules because ___________________.

A) informal norms are easier to enforce
B) informal norms evolve during the beginning stages of a group's formation
C) informal norms may never actually be discussed by the group.
D) informal norms include ground rules

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Generally speaking, when we consider group size, ____________________________________________

A) bigger is usually better because it provides more diverse opinions
B) even rather than odd numbers of participants are preferred and helpful
C) the optimum size is the smallest number of people capable of achieving the goal
D) any group should consist of at least 30 people

Question 5

Accountability means all group members are held responsible for adhering to the group norms and working toward the group's goal.

Question 6

Which of the following statements about social friendships groups is accurate?

A) They are not as important as work groups.
B) They are more task-oriented than work groups.
C) They fulfill our need to belong.
D) They are not really groups.

Question 7

What it the purpose of a team-building activity?

A) to establish trust and rapport
B) to establish group norms
C) to determine who is committed to group goals
D) to develop leadership in groups

Question 8

Personality-related group conflict occurs when two or more group members' goals, ideas, or opinions about the topic are incompatible with the adjourning stage of group development.

Question 9

Group norms can be counterproductive.

Question 10

A family can be a group.

Question 11

A _______________ group is a group in which the members are very different from one another.

A) heterogeneous
B) homogeneous
C) work
D) service

Question 12

Performing is the most important stage of group development.

Question 13

An effective work group goal should be ____________________________.

A) voted on by all members
B) fairly easy to achieve
C) challenging to achieve
D) vague to allow change if needed

Question 14

Cohesiveness is more likely to develop in groups in which ____________________________.

A) there is mandatory membership
B) the membership is heterogeneous
C) members are attracted to its purpose
D) none of these

Question 15

A work group team is _________________________________.

A) a collection of three or more people formed to work together
B) usually an unproductive and unfocused collection of individuals
C) non goal-oriented
D) a group that contains the optimum number of diverse members

Question 16

A ____ family is one in which each family member provides input on a decision, but one person makes the final decision.

A) consensual
B) protective
C) pluralistic
D) laissez-faire

Question 17

A(n) ____ group is a group that forms out of a shared hobby, concern, or activity.

A) service
B) action
C) interest
D) work

Question 18

Some groups formulate ____, prescribed behaviors designed to help the group meet its goals and conduct its conversations.

A) synergy
B) virtual groups
C) team-building activities
D) ground rules

Question 19

Which of these is an example of a service group?

A) a basketball team
B) a group building a Habitat for Humanity house
C) a design team redecorating a home
D) a project group designing a new ad for Nike

Question 20

Groupthink is necessary in order for a group to be productive.

Question 21

Which of the following is an example of engaging in accountability?

A) Following group norms.
B) Working to change counter-productive norms.
C) Expecting others to follow group norms and imposing appropriate consequences when they do not.
D) All of these.

Question 22

During the _____ stage of group development, members are concerned with fitting in:

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

Question 23

What should you do to change an informal norm in a group?

A) Begin enacting the behavior you would like to see.
B) Talk openly about the issue with your group.
C) Ask the leader to make a new policy.
D) You cannot change norms in a group.

Question 24

Your book identifies six characteristics of healthy groups. Briefly describe a group you have been part of that you think is a healthy group. Using at least three of the characteristics (and providing an example of each), explain why you think this group is/was healthy.

Question 25

Deciding as a group that stalemate disagreements will be decided by a majority vote is an example of a ___________________.

A) norm
B) ground rule
C) cohesive act
D) value

Question 26

During the ____ stage of group development, conversations are focused on problem solving and sharing task-related information:

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

Question 27

Disagreements between people are usually not present in the ____ stage because members like to appear flexible during this stage of group development.

A) norming
B) storming
C) adjourning
D) forming

Question 28

Which of these is a quality all effective groups should have?

A) Storming
B) Groupthink
C) Cohesiveness
D) Homoegeneity

Question 29

Which of the following is not a good way to improve virtual group communication?

A) Create regular opportunities to evaluate the technology and its use.
B) Create opportunities to meet outside the virtual environment.
C) Use as many digital communication mediums as possible.
D) Create opportunities for members to become acquainted as the group is forming.

Question 30

During the ______ stage of group development, members are concerned about expressing their ideas and being heard:

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

Question 31

What makes a work group different from a simple aggregation of coworkers?

A) Groups are larger than aggregations of coworkers.
B) Groups have goals.
C) Groups always have similar members.
D) Groups engage in communication and aggregations of coworkers do not.

Question 32

What can you do to avoid groupthink?

A) Discourage disagreement.
B) Avoid paraphrasing.
C) Use active listening skills.
D) Adhere closely to group nomrs.

Question 33

Which of the following statements about interdependence in groups is accurate?

A) Interdependence is unhealthy for groups.
B) Interdependence is healthy for groups.
C) Interdependence does not occur frequently in work groups.
D) Interdependence does not occur frequently in families.

Question 34

During the _____ stage of group development, members engage in some type of formal or informal celebration.

A) norming
B) storming
C) adjourning
D) performing

Question 35

Effective work group goals __________________________________.

A) do not need to be discussed for clarity
B) motivate a group to work toward its achievement
C) are always acceptable and consistent
D) require members to go beyond normal achievements

Question 36

Groupthink _________________________________.

A) is what happens when a group comes to consensus on an issue
B) results from active listening skills
C) is the deterioration of mental efficiency that results from in-group pressure to agree with the group
D) none of these

Question 37

Which of the following statements about support groups is accurate?

A) Having group goals is the most important thing.
B) These groups center around a shared hobby.
C) Members must feel safe do disclose personal information.
D) They do not have group goals.

Question 38

Even though the local swim team did not have a single record-holding swimmer on the team, members' combined efforts and talents helped the team to win the city's championship meet. This is an example of ____.

A) synergy
B) storming
C) groupthink
D) a support group

Question 39

In a ____ group, the members are very similar to one another.

A) homogeneous
B) heterogeneous
C) cohesive
D) family

Question 40

Members accept standard practices established by the group and provide positive and constructive feedback to each other during the ____

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

Question 41

Define synergy. Then, give an example of a time that you experienced synergy in a group. Based on what you know about group cohesiveness and group effectiveness, describe why you think this group was able to achieve synergy. Be sure to use at least three terms from the text in your answer.

Question 42

Identify and explain the major stages of group development and identify what stage this class is in right now. Justify and explain your answer using examples.