Communication Test 2

small group

a collection of people working interdependently to accomplish a task; small groups typically include 3 to 20 members

interdependence

the state in which what happens to one person affects everyone else in the relationship

cohesion

the force by which the members of a group work together in the service of a common goal

task cohesion

the extent to which everyone in the group is working together towards the same objectives

social cohesion

the level of positive regard group members have for one another

task roles

relates to accomplishing a group’s goals and priorities

social rules

relates to serving the group’s social and emotional needs

individual roles

relates to the self-centered behaviors that support an individual’s own needs but do not necessarily contribute to the group at large

antecedent phase

phase of group socialization in which people develop certain beliefs, attitudes, and expectations about a group

anticipatory phase

phase of group socialization in which people decide to join a group and make judgements about what they expect from that group and its members

encounter phase

phase of group socialization in which the group meets for the first time

assimilation phase

phase of group socialization in which members decide to accept the group’s culture and the group acquires its own identity

exit phase

phase of group socialization in which people leave a group

resources

assets that enable a group to be productive

synergy

a collaboration that produces more than the sum of its parts

social loafing

the tendency of some members of a group to contribute less to the group than the average member does, particularly as the group grows in size

mentor

someone who serves as a trusted friend, counselor, or teacher for another person

problem-solving communication

focuses on the details of how a small group can accomplish its tasks

role communication

relates to the formal and informal roles each member plays within the group

consciousness-raising communication

strengthens the group’s identity and the morale of its members

encounter communication

describes the interpersonal interactions among group members

focus groups

usually composed of 6 to 10 typical consumers who may use and provide their feedback on a new product before it is available to the public

brainstorming groups

small groups of people assembled to generate innovative ways of thinking

support groups

groups that aid those battling health concerns, such as diabetes, alcoholism, depression, and eating disorders

social networking groups

groups that allow people to meet, communicate, and get to know each other

brainstorming

an idea-generating process in which group members offer whatever ideas they wish before any are debated

nominal group technique (NGT)

an idea generating process in which group members generate their initial ideas silently and independently and then combine them and consider them as a group

ideawriting

an idea-generating process in which members independently list their own ideas and then systematically evaluate one another’s ideas before they are considered by the group

unanimous consensus

uncontested support for a decision—sometimes the only option in a group’s decision-making process

stalemate

an outcome where members’ opinions are so sharply divided that consensus is impossible to achieve

false consensus

an outcome wherein some members of a group say they support the unanimous decision even though they do not

majority rule

a decision-making process that follows the will of the majority

minority rule

a decision-making process in which a small number of members make a decision on behalf of the group

expert opinion

recommendations of individuals who have expertise in a particular area that are sometimes the basis of a group’s decision-making process

authority rule

a decision-making process in which the leader of the group makes the decisions