Deck 8: Small-Group Communication

Question 1

Explain the different purposes of task statements, maintenance statements, and self-centered statements in small-group communication. Provide an example of each type of statement.

Answer 1

Answers will vary.

Question 2

Discuss and give examples of task functions and maintenance functions. Which is more important for accomplishing a group's goal?

Answer 2

Answers will vary.

Question 3

How do men and women differ in terms of how they interact in groups?

Answer 3

Answers will vary.

Question 4

Name three styles of leadership explained in the book. What are the advantages of each?

Question 5

What are the characteristics of a good discussion question?

Question 6

Drawing from your own experiences, describe three examples of group norms.

Question 7

Explain why knowledge of small-group communication can help you in business and industry employment.

Question 8

When planning a meeting, what are some tips to increase the meeting's effectiveness?

Question 9

How can gender, ethnicity, and culture impact communication in small groups?

Question 10

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Web 2.0 resources that can help groups work more efficiently?

Question 11

What are the differences between a designated leader and an emergent leader of a small group, and what is the effect of each on the group?

Question 12

Identify and describe three of French and Raven's five sources of power.

Question 13

Explain the differences between assigned and emergent groups. Give an example of each type.

Question 14

List and explain the reasons noted in your text why you should study small-group communication.

Question 15

What constitutes ethical behavior during small-group communication?

Question 16

What is groupthink? How is it detrimental to small-group communication?

Question 17

Define small-group communication. Make sure you include what is implied by the words small, interact, and interdependence.

Question 18

Give an example of a question of fact, a question of value, and a question of policy.

Question 19

What are some leadership competencies noted in the text?

Question 20

Explain how trust, cohesiveness, and supportiveness contribute to group climate.

Question 21

"One problem I see with Cindy's idea…" is an example of a coordinating statement.

Question 22

An example of a role is one played by a person who nearly always breaks the tension by making a joke or lightening up the discussion.

Question 23

An example of a norm in small-group discussion might be that everyone sits in a circle with no one in an obvious leadership seat.

Question 24

What are observable characteristics of group culture? Provide at least two examples of observable diversity.

Question 25

Group leaders must identify the group's task and create group member cohesion, among other duties.

Question 26

"The municipal government, the city, should provide garbage collection-not private haulers." This statement is an example of a question of fact.

Question 27

If you're part of a group formed specifically to solve a problem, you are in an emergent group.

Question 28

Leadership involves communication that influences the group to move toward its goals.

Question 29

What implicit characteristics are related to group diversity? Provide at least two examples of implicit characteristics that could influence group culture.

Question 30

If a group member wants to keep voting on an issue until his or her choice is selected, the member is performing a self-centered function.

Question 31

Individuals in small-group communication must perceive that they have a mutually interdependent purpose.

Question 32

A person can play only one role in a particular discussion.

Question 33

In terms of communicative competency, effective leaders attempt to force their own ideas into group discussions.

Question 34

Explain the concept of within-group diversity and why it is important to group culture.

Question 35

One example of a formal role is when the treasurer of an organization pays the monthly bills.

Question 36

Within-group diversity consists of observable characteristics and implicit characteristics.

Question 37

Give an example of a formal role and an informal role.

Question 38

The statement "I don't care; whatever you want to do is fine with me" is likely to be uttered by a democratic leader.

Question 39

One reason you should learn about small groups is that humans need groups to meet needs they cannot meet as individuals.

Question 40

The least directive style of leadership is democratic.

Question 41

The statement "I think Xu's point is well made and we should look at it more closely" is an example of a supporting statement.

Question 42

Which of the roles described here is more of an informal role than a formal role?

A) Zyna's role of balancing the checkbook as the club's treasurer
B) Cecelia's role of taking notes as the club's secretary
C) Francisco's role of maintaining order as the club's parliamentarian
D) Jenny's role of "taskmaster" because of her ability to maintain focus and not be sidetracked by frivolity and side talk

Question 43

Leaders have expert power if they have earned certificates or degrees in the subject areas for which they are providing information.

Question 44

Which of the following is most likely an example of a primary group?

A) a group of workers solving a problem
B) a group of students preparing a presentation
C) a group of women playing cards
D) a group of workers building a house

Question 45

A designated leader is someone who has been appointed or elected to a leadership position.

Question 46

According to the definition of a small group in the book, which of the following would NOT be defined as a small group?

A) five people who voluntarily serve in the Metro Civil Rights Commission to propose policy to the City Council
B) six people working for the same company on various projects in different departments
C) nine women who meet once a month on a Thursday in a support group for victims of wife abuse
D) four old men who meet weekly in the back of a local tavern in their "club" that promotes crime watch

Question 47

Which of the following is NOT a defining characteristic of a small group according to the textbook?

A) Behavior of the group is based on norms, values, and procedures accepted by members of the group.
B) Each person in the group has a sense of belonging or membership.
C) Each person's success is contingent upon the success of the group in achieving its goal.
D) All of the communication interaction in the group is oral, verbal communication.

Question 48

Which of the following is NOT an example of a group norm?

A) The leader of the group always sits at the far end of the table during meetings because that is where she is expected to sit.
B) The group is prohibited from meeting during the weekends.
C) Meetings of the group almost always last for an hour―no more and no less.
D) There are no formal speeches for this group; they always act informally, joke, use slang, and laugh a lot.

Question 49

Which of the following would NOT be considered a leader according to definitions presented in the text?

A) a person who influences the behavior and attitudes of others through communication
B) someone who becomes an informal leader by exerting influence toward achievement of a group's goal but who does not hold the formal position or role of a leader
C) one member persuading another to sabotage a group goal
D) a chair or facilitator who has been appointed or elected to their position

Question 50

Which of the following statements illustrates a task function statement?

A) "Do whatever you want, I don't care."
B) "It doesn't help to call each other names. Let's stick to the issues."
C) "I think Tara's point is well made."
D) "Let's make a list of what we still need to do."

Question 51

Which of these groups may be classified as a secondary group?

A) roommates
B) friends you socialize with regularly
C) a student committee on improving campus meal plans
D) coworkers who regularly share coffee breaks

Question 52

All of the following are needs fulfilled by primary groups EXCEPT

A) achievement.
B) belonging.
C) inclusion.
D) affection.

Question 53

According to research cited in your textbook concerning group size, how many people should be in a small group to increase the likelihood that it will be a productive group?

A) 1 or 2
B) 3 or 4
C) 5 or 6
D) 7 or 8

Question 54

Which of the following reasons is NOT given in your text for why you should study small-group communication?

A) Groups are everywhere.
B) It is more fun to do things with a group of people rather than as an individual.
C) Small groups are a means of participating in the democratic process.
D) Groups meet needs that people cannot meet as individuals.

Question 55

The ability to withhold from followers what they want is called

A) reward power.
B) punishment power.
C) referent power.
D) expert power.

Question 56

Group norms are less difficult to create in computer-mediated environments.

Question 57

Approximately what percentage of workers report in polls that their time spent working in meetings could be more productive?

A) 35%
B) 55%
C) 75%
D) 95%

Question 58

When other members value the knowledge or expertise of a person, that person has

A) reward power.
B) designated power
C) referent power.
D) expert power.

Question 59

When other members of a group admire and respect a person, that person has

A) reward power.
B) punishment power.
C) referent power.
D) expert power.

Question 60

Which of the following is most likely an example of an assigned group?

A) a group of students studying for an exam
B) a group of friends at a party
C) a group of students asked by their resident advisor to repaint the cafeteria
D) a group of students practicing for basketball tryouts

Question 61

Which of the following is an implicit characteristic of group members?

A) age
B) race
C) individuals' worldviews
D) personal artifacts

Question 62

The key characteristics of a group decision support system are efficiency and

A) cost.
B) support.
C) anonymity.
D) training.

Question 63

Which of the following statements regarding gender and group interaction is supported by research?

A) Men use more exclamation points in online discussions.
B) Women prefer more formal speech forms.
C) Men are more influential.
D) Women are better leaders.

Question 64

The great Tennessee basketball coach Pat Summit is able to motivate her players because she has charisma and her players respect her a great deal. What type of power might she possess?

A) reward power
B) punishment power
C) referent power
D) expert power

Question 65

Which situation invites an emergent leader?

A) The company has just announced impending personnel reductions, and a small group of recently hired employees have gathered to discuss strategy.
B) The company is bringing in a new vice president to be part of the upper management team.
C) The company, named for the family that founded it, has just announced that the boss's daughter will be the new CEO.
D) The company has a personnel committee that is always headed by the director of personnel with regional directors as its members.

Question 66

Which of the following is NOT a type of interpersonal influence of power?

A) reward
B) punishment
C) expert
D) pride

Question 67

Americans have a cultural bias that favors which leadership style described in the book?

A) autocratic leadership
B) laissez-faire leadership
C) republican leadership
D) democratic leadership

Question 68

Which concept of group leadership assumes that interpersonal influence is the primary skill needed by an effective group leader?

A) trait approach
B) communicative competencies approach
C) style approach
D) functions approach

Question 69

The statement "I don't care; whatever you want to do is fine with me" is most likely to be uttered by a

A) laissez-faire leader.
B) democratic leader.
C) autocratic leader.
D) emergent leader.

Question 70

The great Tennessee basketball coach Pat Summit is able to win so often because her team understands what the opponent is trying to do on offense and defense. Pat Summit is a master at knowing what types of plays the other team is going to run during the game. What type of power might she possess?

A) reward power
B) punishment power
C) referent power
D) expert power

Question 71

Within-group diversity is influenced by observable characteristics and

A) sex characteristics.
B) race characteristics.
C) age characteristics.
D) implicit characteristics.

Question 72

Did the president of the United States really have intestinal flu or was it a more serious malady? This is a question of

A) value.
B) fact.
C) policy.
D) interest.