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Chapter 1: Defining Small Group Communication

This is Chapter 1 which is titled, Defining Small Group Communication. This chapter basically talks about why we study small group communication and what a small group is, three general types of small group and what a recipe for a cohesive group, and the tests or outcomes of a small group are. Here are our 10 Multiple choice and 10 True/False Questions as well as the key terms for the chapter.

Key Terms:

Small groups - Smalls groups have three distinct characteristics.
1. A few people(ideally 5-7) engaged in purposeful communication over time
2. A group that has common goals and norms and works in either a face-to-face or a mediated environment.
3. An interdependent group that has developed a shared symbolic identity with structured patterns of talk.

Nine Characteristics of a Small Group:

Directly Observable:

1. Communication - Groups engage in purposeful, goal directed, verbal and nonverbal talk
2. Space - Groups that are territorial about both their physical and virtual environments
3. Time - Groups vary in how long it takes them to become a true group and how they manage their time.
4. Size - The minimum size is 3; the ideal size is 5-7; and the maximum size is 13.

Indirectly Observable:

1. Interdependence - Groups trust that each member will do his/her part of an interlocking task.
2. Norms - Groups share values, beliefs, procedures, and a symbolic identity.
3. Structural Patters of Talk - Groups engage in 4 goal-directed patterns of talk: Problem Solving, Role Playing, Relational/Trust Building, and Team Building(consciousness raising)
4. Goals - Groups communication is goal-directed toward solving a problem or winning a game and is measured in terms of productivity, quality of work, member satisfaction, and consensus.
5. Perceived Shared Identity - The group perceives a common, symbolic identity among its members, as contrasted with nonmembers.

Types of Small Groups:

1. Work Groups(Long Standing) - Usually a permanent group. Usually last years to decades.
2. Project Groups - Temporary groups for that particular project. Usually last weeks to months.
3. Virtual Groups - Primary or project groups that collaborate over time and space through mediated communication.

Multiple Choice:

1. The definition of a small group must contain the characteristic ________.

  1. time
  2. goals - Answer!
  3. size
  4. name

2. Which type of work group does not belong?

  1. work group
  2. project team - Answer!
  3. virtual team
  4. brainstorming team

The others are three major work groups that are discussed in chapter one. 3. Which is a directly observable characteristic of a small group?

  1. Norms
  2. Communication - Answer!
  3. Structural
  4. Goals
4. Which is a type of small group?
  1. Long-Standing work groups
  2. Projects Teams
  3. Virtual Teams
  4. All of the Above - Answer!
5. Why do we study small group communication?
  1. Most of our lives we participate in face-to-face discussions
  2. We are expected to work effectively and efficently toward common group goals.
  3. working with 3 or more people can be challenging
  4. all of the above - Answer!
6. What is a small group?
  1. a few (3-8) people engaged in communication with common goals - Answer!
  2. nine or more people working together with common goals
  3. no more than two people working together with common goals
  4. none of the above
7. A virtual team is defined by three major dimension. Which of this is not a part of that dimension:
  1. Permanent or temporary
  2. Virtual interaction mode
  3. Cohesive peer-mediated - Answer!
8. Which of the following is not a "type" or class of a small group:
  1. Personal
  2. Inter-personal Answer!
  3. Community
  4. Work
9. Project Teams include:
  1. Kaizen teams
  2. Tiger teams
  3. cross-functional teams
  4. all of the above - Answer!
10. What is an indirect observation of a small group?
  1. Communication
  2. Goals Answer!
  3. Time
  4. Size

True/False:

1. There are nine characteristics of small groups? True!

2. The characteristic “COMMUNICATION” is indirectly observable. False, it is directly observable.

3. There are four characteristics of communication that are directly observable. These four characteristics are: space, time, size and goals.

False. There are four characteristics, that part is true. “Goals” are not directly observable, making the statement false. The characteristic that replaces “goals” is “communication.”

4. Tests or outcomes of a small group are: high productivity, high quality of work, high levels of membership satisfaction and sufficient consensus.

True. This was taken from the end of the chapter key points.

5. Cohesiveness focuses on commitment to work collectively toward group goals. True!

6. Relational Talk is when members of a group decide to work together in a relationship.

False! Relational Talk occurs when small groups solve problems

7. Verbal and Non-verbal communication are such fundamental and taken for granted behaviors of a small group that we often overlook them. True!

8. The first visual impulse we receive that points to the presences of the group is NOT space. False!

9. For task meetings, it is acceptable to be verbally aggressive if you disagree with ideas True!

10. A good way to tell if a group is being cohesive is if group members make continual references such as "I," and "me," False!

11. 20 is an acceptable number of people to be in a group. False!

12. Smoking is an acceptable norm at a groups first meeting. False!

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