Question 1

When groups become more risk-taking or cautious after discussion has occurred than the initial preferences of group members would indicate, this is called group
A) synergy.
B) cohesiveness.
C) productivity.
D) polarization.

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is called group polarization. Group polarization occurs when group discussion leads to either more extreme or more cautious decisions than the group members would have made individually. This is because during group discussion, individuals are exposed to different arguments, which can either reinforce their initial views or make them more extreme.

Question 2

You want to prevent groupthink from becoming a problem in your group. To do this you should
A) increase the group members' sense of invulnerability to disaster.
B) increase status differences among group members.
C) seek information that supports an emerging agreement among members.
D) develop a norm in the group that legitimizes disagreement.

Accepted Answer

Developing a norm in the group that legitimizes disagreement is the best way to prevent groupthink. This encourages members to voice their opinions and ideas even if they may be different from the majority, which helps prevent the group from blindly following a consensus without critical evaluation. Increasing the group members' sense of invulnerability to disaster (A) can actually exacerbate groupthink by making members feel like they can take risks without consequence. Increasing status differences among group members (B) can also lead to groupthink if members feel pressure to conform to those with more power or authority. Seeking information that supports an emerging agreement among members (C) can also contribute to groupthink as it focuses solely on confirming existing beliefs and ideas rather than exploring alternative perspectives.

Question 3

You're the leader of the Interstellar Dark Beer Drinking Doomsday cult. You predict that the world will end when consumption of dark beer declines by 5% or more in a year. Consumption declines 7%, but the world does not end. When this fact is pointed out to you, your response is, "Members of the IDBDD drank mass quantities of dark beer, so they saved the world from extinction, proving the validity of my teachings." This is an example of
A) confirmation bias.
B) false dichotomy.
C) rationalization of disconfirmation.
D) groupthink.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of rationalization of disconfirmation, as the leader is attempting to explain away the fact that their prediction was incorrect by twisting the definition of "dark beer consumption decline" to fit their narrative.

Question 4

Groupthink is a process whereby
A) group members get together and think up solutions to problems.
B) excessive cohesiveness discourages dissent in the group.
C) group members fear that the decisions made by the group will produce disastrous results.
D) group members exhibit serious concerns about the morality of their decisions.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink occurs when group members prioritize agreement and cohesiveness over the critical evaluation of ideas and solutions. This excessive cohesiveness can discourage dissent and lead to poor decision-making. Therefore, option B is the best choice. Options A, C, and D do not accurately describe the process of groupthink.

Question 5

Potentially, the group's best means of coping effectively with information overload is
A) multitasking.
B) expanding the search for only relevant information.
C) discerning patterns to identify irrelevant information.
D) shutting off all electronic technology for a month.

Accepted Answer

Discerning patterns to identify irrelevant information can help the group filter out unnecessary information and focus on what is important. Multitasking may actually contribute to information overload, and expanding the search for only relevant information may not always be practical or feasible. Shutting off technology completely for a month may be an extreme solution and may not be necessary if the group can effectively manage their information intake through discerning patterns.

Question 6

Rationalization of disconfirmation means
A) we invent superficial alternative explanations for information that confirms our beliefs.
B) we invent superficial alternative explanations for information that disconfirms our beliefs.
C) we have a psychological predisposition to seek information that confirms our beliefs.
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Rationalization of disconfirmation means inventing superficial alternative explanations for information that disconfirms our beliefs. It is a defense mechanism that enables us to maintain our beliefs in the face of contradictory evidence. This can occur when we experience cognitive dissonance, or the discomfort that arises from holding inconsistent beliefs or attitudes. Rather than changing our beliefs, we may rationalize the disconfirming information by coming up with alternative explanations that allow us to maintain our existing beliefs.

Question 7

Collective inferential error is a group's tendency to
A) make inferences when engaging in decision making and problem solving.
B) resist making inferences during group discussion.
C) make inferences based on too much information.
D) make inferences based on very limited and faulty information.

Accepted Answer

Collective inferential error refers to a group's tendency to make inferences based on very limited or faulty information, often leading to incorrect decision making or problem solving. The group members may rely on their shared assumptions, biases, and stereotypes instead of seeking out and analyzing more complete and accurate data. This error can be reduced by encouraging the group to consider multiple perspectives and systematically gather and evaluate evidence before reaching conclusions.

Question 8

Inferences
A) should be avoided during group discussion.
B) are generalizations about the known based on the unknown.
C) are uneducated guesses.
D) are generalizations about the unknown based on the known.

Accepted Answer

Inferences are generalizations made about the unknown based on the known information. It is a common and important component of critical thinking, but it should be based on solid evidence and logical reasoning. Therefore, it is not appropriate to avoid inferences during group discussion, as long as they are well-supported and relevant to the topic at hand.

Question 9

Several group members believe in the power of Therapeutic Touch. They see a program on the Discovery channel that shows examples of TT in action. They are now even more convinced than ever that TT heals people. Another program on PBS, however, announces that it will show TT is a fraudulent, worthless therapy. Group members refuse to watch this program because it casts doubt on their belief in TT. This is an example of
A) rationalization of disconfirmation.
B) false dichotomy.
C) group polarization.
D) confirmation bias.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of confirmation bias, where the group members only seek out information that confirms their belief in TT and refuse to watch any information that may challenge or disprove their belief.

Question 10

A correlation is
A) a consistent relationship between two variables.
B) an inconsistent relationship between two variables.
C) a generalization about what is unknown based on what is known.
D) a psychological predisposition to seek information that agrees with our point of view.

Accepted Answer

A correlation is a consistent relationship between two variables, meaning that as one variable changes, the other tends to change in a predictable way. Correlations are often expressed as a correlation coefficient, which ranges from -1 to 1 and indicates the strength and direction of the relationship.

Question 11

Dialectical inquiry is
A) one method of preventing groupthink.
B) a process in which a single group member challenges an emerging agreement on a controversial issue.
C) a process in which one member raises questions in a nonaggressive manner regarding potential problems such as false dichotomies and confirmation bias.
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Dialectical inquiry is a method used to prevent groupthink by encouraging open discussion and debate among group members, which helps to ensure that all viewpoints are considered before reaching a decision.

Question 12

Group discussion promotes higher quality decision making when
A) the validity of inferences is carefully examined.
B) inferences are grounded in valid information.
C) at least one member of the group exerts influence to guide the group toward higher quality decisions.
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

All three options are necessary for group discussion to promote higher quality decision making. Careful examination of the validity of inferences ensures that the conclusions drawn are based on accurate information. Inferences should also be grounded in valid information, which means that the information used should be reliable, relevant, and unbiased. Lastly, a member of the group who exerts influence to guide the group towards higher quality decisions ensures that the discussion stays on track and that all members are actively engaged in the process.

Question 13

A friend of yours has joined a controversial doomsday group headed by an individual who claims to be a prophet with divine powers. The head of this group predicts that the world will end on Christmas Eve. When this prophecy proves to be wrong, the explanation provided by the head of the group claims, "This was just a dress rehearsal for the real thing-testing your faith." This is
A) confirmation bias.
B) the vividness effect.
C) rationalization of disconfirmation.
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

This scenario demonstrates rationalization of disconfirmation, as the head of the group attempts to explain away the failed prophecy by claiming it was just a dress rehearsal.

Question 14

You energetically seek information that agrees with your point of view when researching a group project and you ignore information that contradicts your point of view. You are exhibiting
A) confirmation bias.
B) invalid inferences.
C) correlation as causation fallacy.
D) false dichotomy.

Accepted Answer

The behavior described is an example of confirmation bias, which is the tendency to seek out or interpret information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses, while disregarding or discounting evidence that contradicts them.

Question 15

Group polarization can be avoided by
A) having at least one active devil's advocate in the group.
B) having a group facilitator who strongly encourages group members to consider opposing viewpoints on issues raised during group discussion.
C) discussing issues openly before group members take firm positions.
D) making frequent inferences.

Accepted Answer

Group polarization, the tendency for group decisions to be more extreme than individual decisions, can be mitigated by: A) introducing a devil's advocate to challenge prevailing opinions, B) having a facilitator encourage consideration of diverse viewpoints, and C) discussing issues openly before positions become entrenched, all of which encourage critical thinking and consideration of alternative perspectives. Making frequent inferences (D) does not directly address the mechanisms that lead to group polarization.

Question 16

The group polarization effect can be explained by
A) social comparison theory.
B) persuasive argumentation.
C) excessive cohesiveness effect.
D) diffusion of responsibility hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

Social comparison theory and persuasive argumentation both explain group polarization by suggesting that individuals shift their opinions to align with perceived group norms and are influenced by compelling arguments presented during group discussions.

Question 17

Confirmation bias is the psychological predisposition to
A) ignore information that contradicts our beliefs.
B) distort information that confirms our beliefs.
C) seek information that agrees with our beliefs.
D) seek information that contradicts our beliefs.

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias involves ignoring or dismissing information that contradicts our beliefs (A) and actively seeking out information that agrees with our beliefs (C).

Question 18

You can combat false dichotomies in your group by
A) employing the language of provisionalism (qualification).
B) seeking confirming information and evidence.
C) vigorously presenting disconfirming evidence to the group.
D) being suspicious of absolute statements.

Accepted Answer

Employing the language of provisionalism (qualification) and being suspicious of absolute statements are both ways to combat false dichotomies in a group.

Question 19

Which of the following is a valid statement about correlations?
A) Group members tend to have a strong inclination for inferring causation from correlations.
B) Most correlations are noncausal.
C) Vivid information makes correlations into causations.
D) Correlations link causal statements into dichotomies.

Accepted Answer

A) Humans often mistakenly infer that a correlation between two variables implies one causes the other. B) Many correlations do not imply a direct causal relationship; they may co-occur without one causing the other.

Question 20

Which of the following is a consequence of information overload?
A) It impedes critical thinking.
B) It promotes indecisiveness.
C) It makes concentration on any one idea, concept, or problem extremely difficult.
D) It diminishes creativity.

Accepted Answer

Information overload can lead to difficulties in critical thinking, decision-making, concentration, and creativity because the excess of information can overwhelm cognitive processes, making it hard to focus, analyze, and come up with innovative solutions.

Quiz 9: Defective Group Decision Making and Problem Solving

When groups become more risk-taking or cautious after discussion has occurred than the initial preferences of group members would indicate, this is called group

You want to prevent groupthink from becoming a problem in your group. To do this you should

Groupthink is a process whereby

Potentially, the group's best means of coping effectively with information overload is

Rationalization of disconfirmation means

Collective inferential error is a group's tendency to

Inferences

A correlation is

Dialectical inquiry is

Group discussion promotes higher quality decision making when

You energetically seek information that agrees with your point of view when researching a group project and you ignore information that contradicts your point of view. You are exhibiting

Group polarization can be avoided by

The group polarization effect can be explained by

Confirmation bias is the psychological predisposition to

You can combat false dichotomies in your group by

Which of the following is a valid statement about correlations?

Which of the following is a consequence of information overload?