Small Group Communication Final Exam

small group communication

Communication among a small group of people who share a common purpose, belongingness to the group, and exert influence.

Transactional model of communication

Simultaneous communication between two individuals; sending and receiving messages at the same time.

Four characteristics that distinguish a team from a group

Clearly defined goals, defined roles, defined rules, collaborative methods for accomplishing the work.

Primary group

A group whose main purpose is to give people a way to fulfill their need to associate with others such as family and social groups

Secondary groups

Exist to accomplish a task or goal, such as decision making groups, study groups or problem solving.

What is theory?

A set of interrelated facts, observations, and ideas that explains or predicts something.

Systems theory

A theory that describes behavior in terms of input, processes, and output.

Open system

A small group is an open system that has interdependent variables that receive input, processes the input, and yields an output.

Interdependence

A relationship among components in a system such that a change in one component affects all other components.

Input variables

Group members, group resources, tools, knowledge, purposes, relationships, and the physical environment.

Output variables

The outcome of the group process. Solutions and decisions.

Symbolic Convergence Theory

The theory that a group develops a shared consciousness and identity through the sharing of fantasies or stories, which are often chained together and have a common theme.

Social exchange theory

A description of human relationships in terms of cost and rewards or profits and losses.

Fantasy theme

common or related content of stories a group tells

Functional theory

The effect or consequence of a given behavior within a group system

Forming

A period characterized by anxiety and uncertainty about belonging to the group and a resulting cautiousness in behavior.

Storming

Competition, individuality, and conflict emerge as group members try to satisfy their individual needs.

Norming

Characterized by attempts to resolve earlier conflicts, often by negotiating clear guidelines for the group.

Performing

Cooperation and productive work are hallmarks of this stage.

Maslow hierarchy of needs

Physiological

Safety

Belongingness

Esteem

Self actualization

Mutuality Of concern

Clarifying to group how committed and concerned individual members may be with accomplishing a task.

Interpersonal attraction

Being attracted to a particular person in a group rather than the group itself.

High context culture

Place more emphasis on nonverbal communication

Low context culture

Places more emphasis on verbal communication

Question of fact

Phrased such that the answer to the question is either yes or no. Construct a story or narrative to answer the discussion question.

Question of prediction

Asks whether something is likely to occur or may occur under a certain set of circumstances.

Question of value

A question that asks whether something is good or bad or right or wrong.

Question of policy

Questions that help groups determine what course of action or policy change would enable them to solve a problem or reach a decision.

Inductive reasoning

A method of arriving at a general conclusion through the use of specific examples, facts, statistics, and opinions.

deductive reasoning

the process of drawing specific conclusion from a general statement or principle.

Major premise

a generalization or an overall encompassing statement. "All students who take a course i small group communication will have a successful career."

Minor premise

a more specific statement about an example that is linked to the major premise. "Mark Stevens has taken a course in small group communication."

A conclusion

based on the major premise and the more specific minor premise. "Mark Stevens will have a successful career."

casual fallacy

the inappropriate assumption that one event is the cause of another when there is little evidence to connect the two events.

either/ or fallacy

occurs when someone argues that there are only two approaches or solutions to a problem; it oversimplifies the options by suggesting we must do either X or Y.

bandwagon fallacy

tries to convince you that an idea is good simply because "everybody" else thinks it's good; hence, you should jump on the bandwagon and support the idea.

Hasty Generalization

a conclusion on the basis of too little evidence or evidence that doesn't exist is making a hasty generalization.

For example, because a friend of yours got ripped off by a service station when vacationing in Texas doesn't mean that you should avoid all service stations in Texas.

attacking the person

also known as ad hominem -- involves attacking irrelevant personal characteristics about someone rather than examining the idea or proposal he or she advances.

red herring fallacy

occurs when someone undermines an idea by using irrelevant facts or arguments as distractions.

self concept development

gender and sexuality influence how we think and see ourselves and how others see us and that can influence how we communicate with group members

culture

our cultures and backgrounds influence how we think and interact, what we see as normal, and cultural differences can be a source of miscommunication and conflict

Diversity

having people from different backgrounds and mindsets adds for a variety of perspectives and ideas, and minimizes groupthink

Maintenance roles

have to do with the group's overall environment and social atmosphere.

Individual roles

call attention to individual contributions and tend to be counterproductive in accomplishing the overall goal, as they often are seeking recognition rather than accomplishing the task at hand

Norms

-Rules or standards that determine appropriate and inappropriate behavior for the group

How are norms established?

based on what they have experienced in group in the past and if they're accepted by the other members, they stay.

legitimate power

election or appointment

referent power

power of personal attraction, we listen to those we like.

expert power

power based on ones knowledge

coercive power

power based on the negative effects you give to someone.

evaluation

use of "you" language calls into question the worth of another person

control

efforts to get others to do what you want them to do

strategy

planned communication, complimenting someone before criticizing them.

Description

"I" language shares your own feelings and ideas.

Problem orientation

communication aimed at solving problems

Spontaneity

being honest rather than planning how to manipulate

neutrality

emotional indifference, unspoken attitude that you'll get over it

superiority

attitude that you're better than the other person

certainty

taking dogmatic positions, more concerned with winning an argument rather than solving the problem

impervious response

One speaker fails to acknowledge, even minimally, another speaker's communicative attempt.

Tangential Response

A speaker acknowledges another person's communication but immediately takes the conversation in another direction.

impersonal response

One speaker conducts a monologue, or exhibits speech behavior that appears intellectualized and impersonal, contains few first-person statements and many generalized "you" or "one" statements, or is heavily loaded with euphemisms or clichés.

incoherent response

A speaker responds with incomplete sentences; with rambling, difficult-to-follow statements; with sentences containing much retracing or rephrasing; or with interjections such as "you know" or "I mean."

Incongruous Response

A speaker engages in nonverbal behavior that contradicts the vocal content, which results in a response that may be called incongruous.

people oriented listeners

more comfortable listening to other peoples feelings or emotions, search for common areas of interest

action oriented listeners

prefer information that is brief and error free

time oriented listeners

prefer brief messages, they don't have time to listen

content oriented listeners

prefer information rich content, very complex

emblems

cues that have specific verbal counterparts (placing a finger over lips to tell someone to be quiet)

illustrators

behaviors that add meaning to accompanying nonverbal messages

affect display

nonverbal cue that communicates emotion

regulators

nonverbal behaviors that help the group control flow of communication

adaptors

nonverbal acts that satisfy personal needs and help people adapt to their environment

SWOT analysis

technique used to help groups and teams identify and analyze big issues that influence the group or organization

stinking thinking

consists of thoughts that limit the possibility of an individual, group or organization

psuedo conflict

occurs when people agree but because of poor communication, they believe they disagree