Question 1

Which of the following is one of the essential components of groups?

Accepted Answer

Norms are essential components of groups as they establish the expected behaviors and standards within the group, guiding members on how to act.

Question 2

If a leader focuses his or her group on the tasks it needs to achieve,what role is he or she playing?

Accepted Answer

Focusing the group on tasks it needs to achieve is part of the instrumental role of a leader, which involves directing the group towards achieving its goals and objectives. Facilitators help group members communicate and work together effectively, normative leaders establish and enforce group norms or values, and expressive leaders focus on building interpersonal relationships and creating a positive emotional climate in the group.

Question 3

Which of the following is most likely to decrease group cohesiveness?

Accepted Answer

Threats from within the group are likely to cause fear, suspicion, and mistrust among members, which can decrease group cohesiveness. A strong commitment to the group cause (B) and high costs associated with leaving the group (C) can actually increase group cohesiveness, as members are more invested and likely to stick together. A dangerous environment (D) may increase cohesiveness as members band together for protection and safety.

Question 4

What are group roles?

Accepted Answer

Group roles refer to the set of expected tasks or functions that each member of a group is assigned to fulfill in order for the group to achieve its goals. These may include roles such as leader, coordinator, recorder, and presenter, among others. Group roles are important because they help to ensure that each member of the group contributes effectively towards the shared objectives, and that the group functions as a cohesive unit.

Question 5

How are group norms and roles similar?

Accepted Answer

Both group norms and roles can be either formal (explicitly stated) or informal (implicitly understood).

Question 6

In which of the following scenarios is productivity likely to be highest?

Accepted Answer

Pierre assumes a clearly defined instrumental role in the group. When roles are well-defined and clear, individuals are better able to understand what is expected of them and can work more efficiently. This can lead to higher productivity.

Question 7

Tuckman and Jensen propose that groups develop through stages.In order,what are these stages?

Accepted Answer

Tuckman and Jensen's model of group development consists of five stages: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.

Question 8

Sharice has just joined the theatre group in her community.Which of the following is most likely?

Accepted Answer

Since Sharice has just joined the theatre group in her community, it is most likely that she is optimistic that joining the group will be beneficial in some way, such as helping her improve her acting skills, gaining new friends, or simply having a fun hobby.

Question 9

Johnson and Downing (1979)found that participants wearing nurses' uniforms delivered lower levels of shock when they were anonymous than when they were identifiable.What does this finding suggest that deindividuation causes people to do?

Accepted Answer

The finding suggests that deindividuation leads individuals to conform to the norms of the group they are associated with, in this case, the caring norms of nurses, rather than engaging in destructive behavior.

Question 10

Madeline has recently been accepted into a sorority at her university.Which of the following is most likely to happen?

Accepted Answer

The most likely scenario is that Madeline will model her behaviour on that of long-standing group members. This is because new members often look to experienced members to learn about the values, norms, and expectations of the group. They may also feel pressure to conform to the group's standards in order to be accepted. Social loafing (C) is unlikely because new members are typically eager to prove their worth and contribute to the group. Skepticism (B) may be possible, but it is less likely since Madeline has already made the decision to join the sorority. Looking to other new members for guidance (A) is also possible, but it is less likely than modeling behaviour on long-standing group members.

Question 11

Calvin is part of a highly cohesive group and wants to be sure that this cohesiveness positively impacts the performance of the group.In which of the following situations could Calvin be most certain of this?

Accepted Answer

Cohesiveness is most likely to positively impact group performance when the group's tasks are interdependent, meaning that each member's contributions are necessary for the group to succeed. In a group with highly cohesive members who are interdependent, there is better communication, cooperation, and support among members, which is likely to result in better performance. The other options - having a large group, negative norms, and requiring creativity - do not necessarily guarantee positive impacts on group performance based on cohesiveness alone.

Question 12

What types of roles develop in groups?

Accepted Answer

Instrumental roles refer to the task-oriented roles that contribute to the group's goal achievement, while emotional roles refer to the roles that help to maintain group cohesiveness and interpersonal relationships. These two types of roles are commonly observed in groups. Option B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not accurately describe the roles that develop in groups.

Question 13

What has research concerning the relationship between group performance and cohesiveness shown?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that the relationship between group performance and cohesiveness is stronger when interdependence between members is required for the task. This means that when members of a group need to rely on each other to complete a task, the group's cohesiveness can have a positive impact on performance. However, in situations where interdependence is not required, cohesiveness may not have a significant impact on group performance.

Question 14

According to the textbook,which of the following reasons is the most important influence on why people join groups?

Accepted Answer

The textbook states that the most important reason people join groups is to fulfill the need to belong. The need to belong is a fundamental human motivation and drives individuals to seek out and join groups where they feel accepted and valued. People join groups for a variety of reasons, such as sharing common interests or goals, gaining social support, and increasing their social status, but the need to belong underlies all of these reasons.

Question 15

The members of the student council are in the process of reconciling their conflicts and developing a common sense of purpose.Which of Tuckman and Jensen's (1977)stages of group development is the student council at?

Accepted Answer

The student council is currently in the norming stage, as they are working to overcome conflicts and establish a common goal or purpose. This involves developing a sense of cohesion and cooperation among the members, which is characteristic of the norming stage.

Question 16

Compared to Tuckman and Jensen's (1977)stages of group development,what does Gersick (1988)suggest about groups?

Accepted Answer

Gersick (1988) suggests that groups often adopt their core operational and problem-solving strategies relatively early in their development process, contrasting with Tuckman and Jensen's (1977) model which posits a more gradual, stage-by-stage development.

Question 17

In her group,Melanie is always the one who breaks the tension with a funny story and provides a shoulder to cry on when things go wrong.Which role is she playing?

Accepted Answer

Melanie is playing a role that focuses on creating a positive emotional climate within the group by providing support and humor. This aligns with the characteristics of an expressive role. The facilitator role focuses on ensuring the group members stay on task and reach their goals, while the instrumental role focuses on providing necessary resources for the group to function effectively. The normative role focuses on enforcing norms and rules within the group. None of these roles fully encompass Melanie's behavior in the given scenario.

Question 18

Nita has just joined the rowing club,an organization that has been low in members for the last several years.Which of the following will most likely happen?

Accepted Answer

Nita's commitment to the group will depend on whether the group members accept each other and the group. If Nita feels accepted by the group, she is more likely to become committed to the group. This is a common phenomenon known as social identity theory, which suggests that people tend to identify more strongly with groups that they believe are accepting and supportive.

Question 19

Deborah has just joined a sorority.She is unsure what she should wear when she goes to eat at the sorority's dining hall.What is Deborah uncertain about?

Accepted Answer

Deborah's uncertainty about what to wear to the sorority's dining hall pertains to the informal norm, which are unwritten rules or expectations for behavior in social settings.

Question 20

According to the social identity model of deindividuation effects,what does deindividuated behaviour result from?

Accepted Answer

Deindividuated behavior, according to the social identity model of deindividuation effects (SIDE), results from conformity to the norms of the most immediate group, rather than a loss of self-awareness or personal identity.

Quiz 8: Group Processes