Question 1

Which of the following can be defined as 3-15 people working interdependently to accomplish a task?

Accepted Answer

A small group is typically defined as a collection of 3-15 people who work interdependently to achieve a common goal or task.

Question 2

) Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of small groups?

Accepted Answer

Small groups typically do not avoid rules and norms; instead, they often establish rules and norms to guide behavior and interactions among members.

Question 3

According to current communication scholars, a small group is composed of at least _____ and no more than 15 or 20 members.

Accepted Answer

According to current communication scholars, a small group is composed of at least 3 and no more than 15 or 20 members. This size allows for direct interaction and collaboration among all members.

Question 4

The size of a small group matters, because most of us _____________ differently in larger and smaller collections of people.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is D) communicate because the way individuals communicate often changes based on the size of the group they are in. In smaller groups, communication tends to be more direct and personal, while in larger groups, communication might become more formal or structured.

Question 5

What term describes the scenario in which each group member influences, and is influenced by, every other group member?

Accepted Answer

Interdependence describes a scenario where each group member influences and is influenced by every other member, highlighting mutual dependence within the group.

Question 6

Jack and Kate are working on a small group project for their political science class. They disagree on how to complete part of the assignment, which soon escalates to a full-scale argument. Afterward, they find it difficult to work together, and the entire group is affected. Jack and Kate are demonstrating ____________, meaning their moods and behaviors influenced, and were influenced by, one another's in a way that affected the group.

Accepted Answer

Interdependence refers to the way individuals in a group are affected by and affect each other's moods and behaviors, which is what is happening between Jack and Kate.

Question 7

Groups are interdependent if the members all influence each other, but they are ____________ only if the members work together toward the same goal.

Accepted Answer

Groups are cohesive when members work together toward the same goal, indicating unity and collaboration.

Question 8

In your algebra class, you are assigned to work in a small group. Most group members know their specific tasks and follow through on them, but there are two members who neglect their responsibilities. Therefore, your group's _________ cohesion is low.

Accepted Answer

Task cohesion refers to the degree to which group members work together to achieve common goals and objectives. If some members neglect their responsibilities, task cohesion is low.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a behavior that can cause a group to become dysfunctional?

Accepted Answer

Bragging, while potentially annoying or off-putting, does not inherently cause a group to become dysfunctional in the way that parasitism, interpersonal aggression, or misuse of resources can. These latter behaviors directly undermine group cohesion, trust, and effectiveness.

Question 10

A group's _________ are its explicitly stated principles for governing what its members can and cannot do.

Accepted Answer

Rules are the explicitly stated principles that govern what members of a group can and cannot do, distinguishing them from more implicit norms, broader standards, and less formal guidelines.

Question 11

Genevieve and her friends sit together every day at lunch. It is understood that they will meet and sit in the same spot. Genevieve would never dream of bringing her lunch from home; in her group everyone buys lunch at the cafeteria. If Genevieve wants to bring someone new to join the group, she knows she should bring it up with her friends first. Even though these ______ were never explicitly stated, Genevieve knows how to conduct her behavior based on observing how her friends behave in the group.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is "norms" because they refer to the unwritten rules or standards of behavior that are accepted within a group or society. These are understood through observation and social interactions, rather than being formally stated.

Question 12

Although it has never been discussed, it is understood that when someone in your study group is going to be late, that person should send a text message. What term best describes your study group's unspoken understanding?

Accepted Answer

Norms are understood rules within a group that dictate expected behaviors without being formally communicated. In this case, the expectation to send a text when late is a norm within the study group.

Question 13

What is your supervisor establishing when she tells your committee that your meetings will begin at 10

Accepted Answer

A rule is being established as it is a specific directive about when the meetings will start.

Question 14

Patterns of behavior that define a person's function within a group are called what?

Accepted Answer

Roles are patterns of behavior that define a person's function within a group, indicating what kind of behavior is expected from a person in a specific position within the social structure of the group.

Question 15

If a committee has a designated chairperson and note-taker, these are what types of roles?

Accepted Answer

These roles are formal because they are officially designated positions within the structure of the committee, implying specific responsibilities and authority.

Question 16

What types of roles most frequently reflect how well or poorly the group functions while carrying out its mission?

Accepted Answer

Informal roles often reflect the group's functionality in achieving its goals, as they emerge naturally based on members' personalities, skills, and interactions rather than being officially designated or assigned.

Question 17

Someone who is always making jokes in a group and trying to lighten the mood is taking on what type of role?

Accepted Answer

This person is taking on an informal role, as they are naturally contributing to the group's dynamics without being officially designated to do so.

Question 18

Ethan is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of two-year colleges. He wears his lapel pin to all meetings and puts on his chapter shirt when the group goes into the community for a project. At the start of each meeting, he hugs other members instead of a handshake or just saying hello. What do all of these actions serve to reinforce with regard to Phi Theta Kappa's group?

Accepted Answer

These actions reinforce the identity of the group by showing membership and belonging through symbols (lapel pin, chapter shirt) and unique social practices (hugging).

Question 19

Which practice is central to accomplishing any group's mission?

Accepted Answer

Communication is central to accomplishing any group's mission as it ensures that all members are aligned, informed, and able to collaborate effectively towards common goals.

Question 20

In the film Remember the Titans, Coach Herman Boone (played by Denzel Washington), must deal with racial issues on his football team. At one point, he wakes his players up at 3:00

Accepted Answer

In the film, Coach Boone's action of waking his players up early to visit the Gettysburg cemetery serves as a consciousness-raising activity. He uses this moment to teach his team about the importance of overcoming racial prejudice and coming together as a team, highlighting the historical significance of their own conflicts.

Quiz 9: Communicating in Small Groups