Deck 1: Introduction to Group Communication

Question 1

A college appoints a moderator and holds an open discussion to give students an opportunity to ask questions and express their concerns about the person invited to deliver the commencement address at graduation.This kind of public discussion is an example of a

A)symposium.
B)forum.
C)panel discussion.
D)governance group.
E)service group.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

A group with 7 members has the potential for _______ different types of interactions.

A)9
B)90
C)666
D)900
E)966

Answer 2

E

Question 3

The cooperative interaction of group members that results in better results than the sum total of individual members working alone is referred to as

A)interaction.
B)common goals.
C)interdependence.
D)synergy.
E)working.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Your family is an example of a

A)primary group.
B)social group.
C)public group.
D)service group.
E)learning group.

Question 5

Which of the following characteristics is a disadvantage of working in groups?

A)Groups make better decisions when working on complex tasks.
B)Working in groups enhances member learning.
C)Groups require significant time,energy,and resources.
D)Groups are often more creative than members working alone.
E)Members usually enjoy working with others in groups.

Question 6

The most important factor distinguishing effective groups from ineffective groups is

A)having a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 12 members in a group.
B)having a common goal.
C)strong leadership.
D)member independence and interdependence.
E)group morale.

Question 7

A book club is an example a

A)self-help group.
B)social group.
C)civic group.
D)service group.
E)public group.

Question 8

To which basic element in the group communication process is Grace giving special attention when she prepares for an important group meeting by making sure her business suit is pressed,that her hair is well-groomed,that her perfume is pleasant but subtle,and that she takes a breath mint before entering the meeting room?

A)Channels
B)External noise
C)Feedback
D)Verbal message
E)Internal noise

Question 9

A virtual team is one that

A)relies on technology to communicate.
B)exists only for a short period of time.
C)lacks a leader.
D)lacks a clear purpose.
E)has the same dynamic as other groups.

Question 10

Generally,what is the ideal group size for a problem-solving discussion?

A)3-5 people
B)4-6 people
C)5-7 people
D)6-9 people
E)8-12 people

Question 11

The ideal size of a small group is NOT dependent upon:

A)member knowledge.
B)attitudes.
C)skills.
D)task.
E)relationship history.

Question 12

A group with 5 members has the potential for _______ different types of interactions.

A)95
B)90
C)105
D)190
E)100

Question 13

A local Alcoholics Anonymous chapter is an example of a

A)primary group.
B)self-help group.
C)learning group.
D)service group.
E)public group.

Question 14

Guests who appear on talk shows and interact with other guests for the benefit of an audience are participating in a

A)symposium.
B)forum.
C)panel discussion.
D)governance group.
E)service group.

Question 15

Which theory describes a collection of interacting,interdependent elements working together to form a complex whole?

A)Relational Dialectics Theory
B)Confirmation Bias Theory
C)Systems Theory
D)Goal Theory
E)Group Development Theory

Question 16

Members of a college's board of trustees who are meeting in public to make major policy decisions is an example of a

A)symposium.
B)forum.
C)panel discussion.
D)governance group.
E)service group.

Question 17

All of the following items are fundamental requirements for a virtual team EXCEPT

A)adequate resources (funding,people,skills,etc.)to achieve a group's common goal.
B)ability to meet at the same time.
C)members with adequate and appropriate electronic communication skills.
D)members with adequate and appropriate collaboration skills suited to a mediated environment.
E)members who serve as role models for others in virtual interactions.

Question 18

A group's context refers to

A)the ideas,information,opinions,claims,and/or feelings expressed by group members.
B)the media through which group members share messages.
C)the verbal and/or nonverbal responses from members.
D)the group's physical and psychosocial environment.
E)the group's ability to solve conflict.

Question 19

Which of the following situations best represents group communication as defined in the text?

A)People talking in an elevator
B)People discussing the weather at an airport
C)Fans cheering at a baseball game
D)Jury members deliberating a court case
E)A congregation listening to a sermon

Question 20

Members of a PTA getting together to hold a carnival for elementary school students are participating in a

A)symposium.
B)forum.
C)civic group.
D)governance group.
E)self-help group.

Question 21

The open system ↔ closed system group dialectic can be described as

A)balancing a commitment to group norms and standards with a willingness to differ and change.
B)balancing member similarities and differences.
C)balancing external access and support with internal group solidarity and rewards.
D)balancing member energy and labor with the group's need for rest and renewal.
E)balancing members' personal goals with the group's goal.

Question 22

In a communication transaction,feedback represents

A)a group's physical and psychological environment.
B)anything that interferes with or inhibits effective communication.
C)the media through which group members share messages.
D)the responses and reactions of group members to a message.
E)ideas,information,opinions,and/or feelings that generate meaning.

Question 23

In Latin,the word credo means

A)"I mean."
B)"I am."
C)"I create."
D)"I accuse."

Question 24

According to a study commissioned by the Association of American Colleges and Universities,"teamwork skills and the ability to collaborate with others in diverse group settings" was ranked first as an essential learning outcome in 2 of 4 major categories.

Question 25

Employers view proficiency in a field of study as more important than group communication skills.

Question 26

As groups grow larger,member satisfaction increases.

Question 27

The basic components of group communication are interdependent members,collaboration,and common goals.

Question 28

When seeking to resolve group tensions,the dialectic approach recommends a _______ approach.

A)compromise
B)either/or
C)both/and
D)approach/avoidance
E)task/maintenance

Question 29

According to your text,leadership is the single factor that separates successful groups from unsuccessful groups.

Question 30

In dialectic terms,effective groups balance task dimensions with

A)conformity dimensions.
B)cohesion dimensions.
C)structure dimensions.
D)intercultural dimensions.
E)social dimensions.

Question 31

The engaged ↔ disengaged group dialectic can be described as

A)balancing a commitment to group norms and standards with a willingness to differ and change.
B)balancing a motivation to complete tasks with promoting member relationships.
C)balancing external access and recognition with internal group solidarity and rewards.
D)balancing effective leadership with responsible followership.
E)balancing member energy and labor with the group's need for rest and renewal.

Question 32

All of the following principles of ethical communication are included in the National Communication Association's Credo for Ethical Communication EXCEPT

A)"We endorse freedom of speech only when the truth does not cause detrimental results or harm others."
B)"We advocate truthfulness,accuracy,honesty,and reason as essential to the integrity of communication."
C)"We strive to understand and respect other communicators before evaluating and responding to their messages."
D)"We are committed to the courageous expression of personal conviction in pursuit of fairness and justice."
E)"We promote a communication climate of caring and mutual understanding."

Question 33

In dialectic terms,effective groups balance conflict with

A)conformity.
B)cohesion.
C)structure.
D)closed systems.
E)social dimensions.

Question 34

A group of five members has the potential for 90 different types of interaction.

Question 35

A both/and approach to resolving dialectic tensions in groups empowers members.Which of the following examples demonstrates the characteristics of autonomy in an empowered group?

A)The group believes it has the ability to achieve its common goal.
B)The group believes its common goal is important and worthwhile.
C)The group has the freedom to make decisions and implements its decisions.
D)The group believes its work produces significant benefits for other people and organizations.
E)The group has high morale and understands the value of play as well as work.

Question 36

The homogeneous ↔ heterogeneous group dialectic can be described as

A)balancing a commitment to group norms and standards with a willingness to differ and change.
B)balancing member similarities and differences.
C)balancing external access and recognition with internal group solidarity and rewards.
D)balancing effective leadership with responsible followership.
E)balancing members' personal goals with the group's common goal.

Question 37

In group dialectic terms,effective groups balance structure and

A)heterogeneity.
B)disengagement.
C)spontaneity.
D)engagement.
E)individual goals.

Question 38

All of the following pairs of common folk proverbs illustrate the contradictory nature of dialectic tensions EXCEPT

A)"Opposites attract" and "Birds of a feather flock together."
B)"Two's company,three's a crowd" and "The more the merrier."
C)"Look before you leap" and "He who hesitates is lost."
D)"Waste not,want not" and "Music makes the world go 'round."
E)"To know him is to love him" and "Familiarity breeds contempt."

Question 39

Which of the following examples best illustrates the systems theory principle that "systems try to maintain balance in their environment"?

A)Members may take time off to "play" or relax when work becomes too intense.
B)Members may unexpectedly come up with new ideas and techniques.
C)Effective groups have clear goals.
D)Groups suffer if members fail to cooperate.
E)Groups rely on member input to achieve a common goal.

Question 40

Your text defines group communication as the interaction of 5 to 7 people working to make a good decision.

Question 41

A soft speaking voice can create noise in a communication transaction.

Question 42

Your biases,distracting thoughts about other activities,fatigue,and hunger can cause noise in a communication transaction.

Question 43

Systems theory assumes groups and their members are unpredictable.

Question 44

The term synergy comes from the Greek word synonym,which means "synchronized."

Question 45

On college campuses,intramural athletic teams as well as sororities and fraternities are examples of social groups.

Question 46

In groups with more than 15 members,coordination and control become difficult.

Question 47

PTAs,labor unions,veterans' groups,fire and police auxiliary groups,and neighborhood and community associations are examples of self-help groups.

Question 48

Most organizational groups work within a system that has its own rules,vocabulary,levels of power,and member responsibilities.

Question 49

Feedback is always verbal rather than nonverbal.

Question 50

Ad hoc committees remain active in order to accomplish long-term and ongoing tasks on behalf of a larger group.

Question 51

When group members work together to achieve a common goal,the size of the group,the physical setting,and the group's role and status in an organization are components of the communication context.

Question 52

Organizational groups may have goals as complex as reengineering a global corporation or as simple as sharing relevant information at a weekly staff meeting.

Question 53

People assembled together in an elevator represent a group.

Question 54

Synergy refers to a situation in which "the whole is greater than the sum of its individual parts."

Question 55

In a group symposium,group members interact with one another on a common topic for the benefit of an audience.

Question 56

Work groups collaborate to achieve specific goals on behalf of a business or organization.

Question 57

Generally,there are two sources of noise in the communication process: external and internal.

Question 58

Unlike the digestive system,a computer system,or even the solar system,groups do not function as a system because they involve interdependent members interacting with one another.

Question 59

Diverse and geographically distributed teams have become customary for businesses around the world.

Question 60

In a panel discussion,several group members interact with one another on a common topic for the benefit of an audience.

Question 61

The social benefits of group work can be just as important as task achievement.

Question 62

A theory is a clear,systematic,and predictive explanation of a phenomenon.

Question 63

Skills explain why a particular strategy works in one situation and fails in another.

Question 64

Conflict is avoidable in effective groups.

Question 65

Heterogeneous groups include members who are different from one another.

Question 66

In the best of groups,individual goals support the group's common goal.

Question 67

Relational Dialectics Theory claims that relationships are characterized by ongoing tensions between the contradictory and complex elements of human experiences.

Question 68

Groups without constructive conflict have difficulty analyzing the wisdom of their decisions.

Question 69

The key to balancing both the complex and competing elements in a group is a commitment to working toward the group's goal.

Question 70

The structure ↔ spontaneity dialectic relies on both tested procedures to help a group achieve its goal as well as creative thinking.

Question 71

Generally,one smart person can generate more innovative ideas and creative solutions than an effective group can.

Question 72

When a task is complex and the answers are unclear,an effective group will perform better than individuals working alone.

Question 73

When a group functions as an open system,it guards its boundaries and discourages input from or interaction with the outside.

Question 74

Successful groups balance dialectical tensions by using a with/or approach.

Question 75

Resolving group dialects requires an either/or approach rather than a both/and approach.

Question 76

Group members express themselves verbally (words),nonverbally (facial expressions,body language,vocal cues)and/or through various mediated channels.

Question 77

The leadership-followership dialectic emphasizes the point that leadership is a solo task.

Question 78

The task dimension offers the best indicator for assessing a group's level of productivity.

Question 79

"Two's company; three's a crowd" and "Music makes the world go 'round" are examples of dialectic tensions.

Question 80

When a task is fairly simple and routine,it may be more efficient for an individual working alone to accomplish the task.