Deck 9: B: Communicating in Groups

Question 1

A group that works together to carry out a project or specific endeavor, or to compete against other groups, is referred to as a

A) problem-solving group.
B) primary group.
C) team.
D) focus group.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

A campus-wide committee is established to tackle the issue of diversity. Its mission is to create a more comfortable campus climate; recruit more diverse students, faculty, and administrators; and improve retention among minority groups. What type of group is this?

A) support
B) social
C) focus
D) problem-solving

Answer 2

D

Question 3

"A collection of more than two people who share some kind of relationship with one another, who communicate in an interdependent fashion, and who collaborate toward some shared purpose" defines which of the following terms?

A) family
B) dyad
C) group
D) team

Answer 3

C

Question 4

A small subgroup of individuals who have bonded together within a group is called a

A) co-culture.
B) clique.
C) countercoalition.
D) counterculture.

Question 5

A person in a group who helps keep the conversation on track is referred to as a(n)

A) elaborator.
B) administrator.
C) task master.
D) initiator.

Question 6

Your family would be considered what kind of group?

A) primary
B) secondary
C) support
D) social

Question 7

Which of the following statements is not true of groups as their size grows?

A) The group becomes less effective at accomplishing its goals.
B) The interaction between members becomes more formal.
C) The interaction between members of the group consumes more time.
D) The communication between the members of the group becomes less intimate.

Question 8

During committee meetings, Michael repeatedly makes comments to the effect, "I've been on this committee for years and I've organized a number of professional development workshops that went great, so trust me on this one-what our administration is really looking for is. . . ." What antigroup role does Michael appear to be exemplifying?

A) blocker
B) avoider
C) distractor
D) recognition seeker

Question 9

Danni and Michelle were the co-captains of their high school's small environmental action club, and now that they are at college, they have joined a large club with a similar mission. However, Danni has noticed that Michelle's behavior changed once they joined up with a larger group of students. Once a passionate and tireless worker, Michelle now seems content to sit back and let others do the work. Which of the following terms seems to describe the change in Michelle's behavior?

A) deferred action
B) social loafing
C) networking
D) diffused responsibility

Question 10

"Recurring patterns of behavior or thinking that come to be accepted in a group as the 'usual' way of doing things" is a definition associated with which one of the following terms?

A) cliques
B) rules
C) norms
D) loafing

Question 11

Roles that are concerned specifically with the activities that need to be carried out for the group to accomplish its goals are referred to as

A) social roles.
B) antigroup roles.
C) task roles.
D) objective roles.

Question 12

A gatekeeper is a group member who

A) seeks to smooth over tension in the group by settling differences among members.
B) works to ensure that each member of the group contributes to conversations.
C) expresses group feelings, moods, or relationships.
D) makes sure that no single member of the group dominates the conversation.

Question 13

Which of the following would not be considered a group?

A) the employees at a fast-food restaurant
B) the faculty members of the English Department at your college
C) the people who shop at a mall
D) the organizers of the Chicago Marathon

Question 14

A network in which communication passes from one person to another in a sequential pattern rather than being shared among members is referred to as a(n)

A) all-channel network.
B) wheel network.
C) tree network.
D) chain network.

Question 15

During which stage of a group's development do the members try to negotiate who will be in charge and what the group's goals will be?

A) forming
B) storming
C) norming
D) performing

Question 16

Brad recently relocated from his company's main offices in Detroit to be a regional manager in Minneapolis. Although the new job is a step up for him professionally, he tells his assistant, "There just isn't the same enthusiasm here. Back in Detroit, everybody was excited about the work we were doing, and nobody quit in the whole time I was there-it was just a really close group." Brad's comments seem to reveal that his former group at the corporate headquarters had a higher level of ______ than the group in Minneapolis.

A) cohesion
B) intimacy
C) warmth
D) goal orientation

Question 17

__________ refers to the use of communication messages that demonstrate confidence, dominance, and forcefulness to achieve personal goals.

A) Aggression
B) Argumentativeness
C) Assertiveness
D) Hostility
Answer Key

Question 18

During the group's third meeting, George noticed a pattern emerging-every time the group members were close to making a decision, someone would ask him if he agreed. As the meeting came to a close, some members asked him what time the next meeting would be held and if there was anything in particular they should bring to the next meeting. George wondered if the group had begun to recognize him as their leader. Based on this information, in which stage of development does George's group appear to be?

A) forming
B) storming
C) norming
D) performing

Question 19

Which of the following is not a characteristic of a group?

A) a shared identity
B) a person assigned to serve as the leader
C) common goals
D) interdependent relationships between members