Exam 9: Communicating in Small Groups

________ is the illusion of consensus among the group members. The members begin to believe that they are "invincible" and that any decision made by the group will be a good one.

The _____ phase of a small group discussion is a time for establishing a comfortable communication climate and becoming familiar with the topic.

________ groups come together to answer a question or provide a solution to a problem.

Although small-group communication retains some spontaneity of interpersonal communication, it has the added pressure associated with interacting in public.

Norms and roles are the same variable affecting small-group communication because they identify a member by a title.

Three neighbors meet every Saturday morning to attend a French dessert-making class. They enjoy gathering together to experience new things. What type of group is this?

Match the word or phrase with its meaning. -Task roles

We play ________ when we are concerned about other people's feelings, creating a positive communication climate, and solving or mediating conflicts.

At group meetings, Nick is often sarcastic and uses inappropriate humor. What role is Nick playing?

When a member of the group dominates the discussion, using ________ can maintain your involvement, refocus the group's attention, or provide direction for a discussion that has strayed from the main point, and draw other members of the group into the discussion.

Information seekers, opinion seekers, and recorders are group members who have taken on ________ roles

Maintenance roles deal with the relationships of the group, whereas task roles deal with meeting the group's goals or objectives.

Communication that involves a small number of people who share a common goal or objective and interact is known as

Julie and Aaron have a son with autism. They joined a support group that meets once a month to discuss the difficulties of raising a special-needs child. It is a comfort to Julie and Aaron to be able to share their feelings with others in their situation, and they find that by attending these meetings, they feel less stress and more hopeful. What type of group does this describe?

The dynamics of small-group communication match both dyadic and public communication.

What is a virtual group or team? What is one advantage of working in virtual groups?

Problem-solving groups are also called task-oriented groups.

Now that the Young Republicans group has noticed that their earlier dissent about how to best get out the youth vote theme has all but vanished, they are much more positive and able to show support for each other. They have reached the

A cohesive group works together as a unit, to solve problems, reach goals, or accomplish a specified task.

Nodding our heads in agreement or shaking our heads in disagreement during group meetings is considered nonverbal participation.