Small Group quiz 1. Chapter 1,2,3

" Communication is a process". What does this mean?

Communication is a process because changes and events and relationships are part of a conscious flow.

Define secondary tension

Having to make decisions produces secondary tension Disagreements and conflicts inevitably emerge Tight deadline/intense time pressure With tolerable limits, secondary tension can be a positive force

How do you deal with difficult group members?

1. Make the cooperative group climate 2. A clear code of conduct 3. Change of communication in relation to a difficult person's behavior 4. Confront a difficult person 5. Separate yourself from the difficult person

How is communication a process?

Communication is a process because changes and events and relationships are part of a continuous flow.

What is the principle mean of counteracting Group hate?

Competent communication

Define appropriateness

Complying with contextual rules and their accompanying expectation

How do the content and the relationship dimensions of messages differ?

Content dimension is when the information is transmitted. Relationship dimension is how the message defines or redefines the relationships between group members.

Example of groups

Crowd doing the wave Cheerleading squad performing Crossing guard leaving children Jury deliberating

Example of aggregations

Crowd in shopping mall Individuals waiting for cheerleading tryouts Children wanting to stop at signal to cross the street

Why do we conform to group norms?

Desire to be liked and desire to be right

How does a group build cohesiveness?

Encourage compatible memberships Develop shared goals Accomplish tasks Develop a positive history of cooperation Promote acceptance of group members

Define communication competence

Engaging in communication behavior with others that is both effective and appropriate in a given context

How do the task and social dimensions of groups interconnect?

Because groups are systems, the task and social dimensions are interconnected. All decision-making groups have both task and social dimensions.

Why do groups establish boundaries? How do they control boundaries?

Boundaries regulate input and consequent exposure to change in a system. Boundaries are permeable.

Common communication myths

1. Communication is a cure all 2. Communication can break down 3. Effective communication is merely skill building 4. Effective communication is just common sense

What are the five general ways to achieve communication competence?

1. Knowledge: Learning the rules 2. Communication skill 3. Sensitivity: Receptive accuracy 4. Commitment: passion for excellence 5. Ethics Honesty, respect, fairness, choice, responsibility

Types of norms

Explicit: preferences and prohibitions specifically stated in some form Implicit: preferences and prohibitions determined from observation

What are the periodic phases of group development?

Forming, Join for some reason Storming, A tension phase norming, A standards and rules of conduct for members phase performing, A phase where effort is targeted towards goal achievement

Define collective effort model (CEM)

Group members are strongly motivated to perform well in a group if they are convinced that their individual effort will likely help to attaining valued results

Is it better for a group to be more open than closed?

No group can long indoor unless it closes off to some outside influences and restricts access to some information.

What relationship does stability and change have in groups?

No perfect balance between stability and change in any system, but there is a range in which systems can manage change effectively to promote growth and success without destroying the system with too much instability.

Is tension in a group always undesirable?

No, all groups experience some social tension because change in any system can be an ordeal. Tension can be a positive force. Excessive tension, however, can produce damaging conflict that may split the group apart. Finding both the level of tension that galvanize is the group and effectively managing group tension are important factors in successful group development.

Define nonverbal communication

Nonverbal communication is sharing meaning with others without using words. Our facial expressions, eye contact, personal appearance, tone of voice, gestures, posture, touch, and use of space and time I'll have the potential to communicate messages to group members.

Define rule

Prescription that indicates what you should or shouldn't do in a specific context. Rules govern every communication transaction.

Where do group norms come from?

Source of norms without and within the group: Other larger systems outside the Small Group Influence of a single member Transactions within the group

Diversity and group membership also poses significant challenges

Strong cultural value differences Hostile communication and discrimination Conflict and misunderstanding Diversity in age: differences in political notions, religion, social relationships, use of technology

Define synergy

Synergy occurs when group performance from joint action of members exceeds expectations based on perceived abilities and skills of individual members. (Group genius/wisdom of the crowd) " one plus one equals a ton"

What is the 20% rule?

The 20% rule is an important minimum standard to achieve. Researchers have observed that discrimination against minorities and women drops substantially with no less than 20% of a group, and no fewer than two members, or ethnic minorities and/or women Better results occur when group membership includes more than just a minimum diversity standard

Define openness

The degree of continuous interchange with the outside environment

Define cohesiveness

The degree to which members feel a part of the group, wish to stay in the group, and are committed to each other and to the groups work. Cohesiveness is primarily produced by attention to social relationships.

Social dimensions

The relationships that form between members

What is the ripple effects and how does it affect groups?

The ripple effect or chain reaction, spreads across the entire system, much the way a pebble tossed into a pond disturbs the water and force adjustments. A small part of a huge system can generate a huge effect Can be negative or positive

When is synergy produced?

1. When group members are highly motivated to achieve a common goal 2. From relatively equal participation, not individual, independent effort 3. Groups whose members have deep diversity (task relevant skills, knowledge, abilities, beliefs, values, perspectives, problem-solving strategies etc.) have a greater potential than groups with little such diversity

What is negative synergy?

1. When you are sharing ignorance 2. When group members know little about a subject, compete against each other, resist change, or share a collective bias or mindset 3. "A gang is more dangerous than the sum of its individual parts"

Definition of a group

A group is a human communication system composed of three or more individuals, interacting for the achievement of some common goals, who influence in our influenced by each other.

Define dynamic equilibrium

A range in which systems can manage change effectively to promote growth and success without destroying the system with too much instability

Define a system

A set of interconnected parts working together to form a whole in the context of a changing environment.

What happens if input ceases in a system?

A system deceases

How does group composition affect group efficiency?

Groups usually benefit significantly from diverse membership Race, Ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation Diverse groups are more likely to have members with deep diversity which is very skills, perspectives, backgrounds, information and experiences Provide a wide array of problem-solving and decision-making resources

What are virtual groups

Groups whose members rarely, if ever, meet face-to-face, and are connected by electronic technology and are an integral part of conducting business globally.

Define high context communication

Indirect, imprecise, and implicit.

What is a system composed of?

Input, throughput (processes), and output

What are the three main elements of a system?

Interconnectedness of parts: Ripple affect/ synergy adaptability to change: dynamic equilibrium, dealing with a difficult group member, boundary control and the influence of size: quantitive/qualitative changes

Language can be ambiguous

Language is a structured system of symbols for sharing meaning. Symbols or representations of referents. Nonverbal communication can also be ambiguous.

Define social loafing

The tendency of a group member to exert less effort on a task when working in a group then when working individually

Task dimensions

The work performed by the group

What does it mean by human communication is transactional?

This means that all parties engaged and communicating mutually influence one another. Each person is both a sender and the receiver simultaneously, not merely a sender or receiver.

Defined the platinum rule

Treat others as they want to be treated

Define low context communication

Verbally precise, direct, literal, and explicit

Define uncertainty reduction theory

When strangers first meet the principal goal is to reduce uncertainty and increase predictability

Under what conditions do groups outperform individuals?

When the task requires a wide range in variety of information and skills, groups tend to be superior to any individual Groups generally outperform individuals when both the group and any individual compared or without expertise on the task Groups will usually outperform an individual and both the group and the individual have expertise and the task is an especially large and complex one Even when comparing a group of reasonably bright and informed non-experts to an individual with special expertise, group decisions are sometimes superior

When it comes to a system, what happens without continuous input?

Without continuous input, a system wears down. This is called entropy which means the wearing down process.

Does why we join a group make any difference to the group?

Yes, it effects on the productivity and cohesiveness of those groups.

What are common methods of boundary control

physical barrier: stay out to those outside of group Psychological barriers: gender, race, age, etc. Linguistic barriers: slang, jargon, etc. Roles: a pattern of expected behavior associated with the parts we play in a group Rules Networks Open networks: change and encourage potential disruption Close networks: stressed ability, privacy, and permanence.