Question 1

Uncertain circumstances motivate people to join groups in order to

Accepted Answer

Uncertain circumstances can lead individuals to experience anxiety and the desire to gain more information. Joining a group can provide a sense of reassurance and a platform for social comparison, which can help alleviate anxiety and provide more information. Therefore, all of the options listed (A, B, and C) are potential motivators for joining a group in uncertain circumstances.

Question 2

Transactive memory is more likely to lead to more accurate decisions if

Accepted Answer

Transactive memory involves group members possessing and sharing accurate information. Therefore, if group members possess accurate information, it is more likely to lead to more accurate decisions. The other choices are not necessarily related to the effectiveness of transactive memory.

Question 3

Group discussion may lead members to make decisions that are more extremely on the side of the issue that the group initially favored. This phenomenon is known as

Accepted Answer

Group polarization is the phenomenon where group discussion leads to a more extreme decision or opinion than what the group initially favored. This can happen due to various factors such as social comparison or the desire to conform to the group norm. Social loafing refers to the tendency of some group members to exert less effort in a group task compared to when they work alone. Social facilitation refers to an improvement in performance when people are in the presence of others. Groupthink is the phenomenon where group members prioritize group harmony over critical thinking and dissenting opinions, which can lead to flawed decision-making.

Question 4

As an architect, Rita and her partners are concerned about handicapped access to buildings. Recently, she attended a design meeting where she heard her colleagues make a number of strong, new arguments for increased access. As the group discussion continued, the partners seemed to develop an even stronger attitude favoring handicapped access. Which of the following best describes what Rita's group experienced?

Accepted Answer

Group polarization is when a group's attitude becomes stronger and more extreme after discussing a topic together. In this case, Rita's partners started with concerns about handicapped access, but through discussion, their attitudes became even stronger and more in favor of increased access. Social facilitation is the tendency for individuals to perform better in the presence of others, while social loafing is the tendency for individuals to exert less effort when working in a group. Group inoculation refers to preparing a group to resist persuasion attempts. None of these accurately describe Rita's experience.

Question 5

According to your text, heterogeneous groups of people seem to do better on tasks requiring , whereas diversity in experience can hurt the performance of groups when success is determined by_________________.

Accepted Answer

Heterogeneous groups excel in tasks needing new solutions and quick adjustments due to diverse perspectives. However, when success relies on each member performing a specific role well, varied experiences might impede performance, as uniformity in skill or approach can be beneficial.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a potential barrier to group decision-making?

Accepted Answer

When individuals hold specialized positions in the group, it can actually enhance group decision-making as they bring unique knowledge and expertise to the table. The other options (B, C, and D) are all potential barriers to group decision-making.

Question 7

The company officers are experts in different fields: finance, sales, etc. If they can effectively share information throughout the company, the company will make superior decisions relative to individuals as a result of the concept of

Accepted Answer

The concept described in the scenario is related to effective sharing of information among company officers. This concept is known as transactive memory, which means that individuals collectively hold and share knowledge to improve decision-making. Group polarization and social facilitation do not directly relate to sharing of knowledge, and diversity sharing is not a recognized concept.

Question 8

The disadvantages of diverse groups in the workplace include

Accepted Answer

Diverse groups may have difficulty working together and may lack cohesion due to cultural or personal differences. This can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts that can hinder productivity and teamwork. However, this does not necessarily mean that there will be fewer solutions generated. In fact, diverse perspectives may lead to more innovative and creative solutions. Overcommitment and too much communication are also not necessarily disadvantages of diverse groups.

Question 9

Suppose that you are in a hospital where you are waiting for surgery. According to research, you would prefer to share a room with a person who

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that patients prefer to share a room with someone who has had surgery similar to theirs as they may be able to provide empathy, support, and relevant information.

Question 10

Your textbook discussed a study (Watson et al., 1993) that compared ethnically homogeneous versus ethnically heterogeneous classroom groups. The study found that

Accepted Answer

The study found that at the beginning, the performance of the heterogeneous group was worse than the homogeneous group, but at the end, both groups were performing equally. Therefore, option A is the best choice.

Question 11

Early research on group decision making seemed to demonstrate that groups tended to make decisions than individuals.

Accepted Answer

Early research on group decision making introduced the concept of "risky shift," which observed that groups often make riskier decisions than individuals.

Question 12

Why do scientists perform better when their collaborators span a wide range of scientific disciplines (Pelz, 1956)?

Accepted Answer

Collaboration across a wide range of scientific disciplines fosters innovation and creativity by bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, which is essential for scientific progress.

Question 13

Dave is working on a problem solving task with five other students from his class. Most of the members on this team are very sociable and they get along very well. They are considering including a new person, Steve, on their team. Steve, although conscientious, is not very sociable. Using your knowledge about social groups, what would you advise this team?

Accepted Answer

Including Steve might help the team stay focused on the task due to his conscientious nature, which can be beneficial for problem-solving tasks.

Question 14

Which of the following features of group discussions is most likely to make the group decision better than individual decisions?

Accepted Answer

Transactive memory refers to the way in which individuals in a group specialize in different areas of knowledge, allowing the group as a whole to access a wider range of information than any one individual could alone. This results in a more informed group decision. Group polarization (A) refers to the tendency of groups to become more extreme in their decision-making than any individual in the group would be alone, which can lead to reckless or unwise decisions. Groupthink (C) occurs when group members prioritize harmony and consensus over critical thinking, often leading to a flawed decision. Social loafing (D) is a phenomenon where individuals put in less effort when working as part of a group compared to when they are working alone, which can lead to a suboptimal group decision.

Question 15

Anna is working on a team with people from 4 different countries. Which of the following is likely to initially occur in this group?

Accepted Answer

With people from different countries comes different cultural backgrounds and communication styles. This can initially lead to misunderstandings, miscommunications, and a lack of trust within the group. However, with proper communication and understanding, this group can eventually lead to successful performance and increased commitment to the group. There is no evidence to suggest that the presence of people from different countries would lead to either fewer or more workdays missed.

Question 16

Group discussion is likely to lead members to make decisions that are

Accepted Answer

Group discussion tends to polarize opinions and push the group towards a more extreme position than where they started. This is known as group polarization. This occurs because group members use each other's opinions and arguments to validate and reinforce their initial position, leading to a shift towards a more extreme stance.

Question 17

Stanley Schachter's (1959) classic studies on fear and affiliation concluded that

Accepted Answer

Schachter's classic studies on fear and affiliation concluded that people who are experiencing fear or anxiety prefer to affiliate with others who are similarly experiencing fear or anxiety, leading to the idea that "Misery doesn't love just any kind of company, it loves only miserable company."

Question 18

Because of later research, the term "risky shift" has been replaced by the term

Accepted Answer

Later research revealed that it is not always that a group decision is riskier than an individual decision. Instead, the group can sometimes make more extreme decisions than any member would make individually. This phenomenon is called group polarization, which has replaced the term "risky shift". Social facilitation refers to the tendency for the presence of others to enhance individual performance, while social loafing refers to the tendency for individuals to exert less effort when working in a group. Groupthink refers to a phenomenon where group members prioritize group consensus over critical thinking, leading to faulty decision-making.

Question 19

The advantages of culturally diverse groups in the workplace include

Accepted Answer

Culturally diverse groups bring a variety of perspectives, experiences, and approaches to problem-solving, leading to a wider range of potential solutions being generated.

Question 20

Imagine a group of moderately pro-feminist women having a discussion about feminism. Can you predict the typical attitude change (if any) of these women after the discussion?

Accepted Answer

Discussing feminism with other feminists can often lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation of feminist values and beliefs. Therefore, it is likely that these women will become more pro-feminist following the discussion. This is especially true if they are exposed to new ideas and perspectives during the conversation.

Quiz 12: Groups