Deck 9: Group Facilitation

Question 1

A FACILITATOR's primary role is

A) To help clients resolve conflict.
B) To help clients listen to one another.
C) To empower clients to make their own decisions.
D) To help parties focus on interests, not positions.
E) Dependent on the approach to facilitation taken by the facilitator.

Answer 1

E

Question 2

Facilitators help groups COMMUNICATE by

A) Using active listening skills.
B) Pre-empting barriers to communication.
C) Deciding conflicts on their behalf.
D) Separating groups so that they cannot talk to one another.
E) Only (a) and (b).

Answer 2

E

Question 3

When helping a TASK GROUP resolve conflict, it would be INAPPROPRIATE for a facilitator to

A) Use a problem-solving approach.
B) Engage the conflicting parties in therapy.
C) Foster a team approach.
D) Focus the members on the tasks that need to be fulfilled.
E) Help the group set ground rules for discussion.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

A THERAPEUTIC GROUP is designed to

A) Help clients fulfill specific tasks.
B) Remediate psychosocial problems through the use of therapeutic techniques, such as exploring deep-rooted fears or dysfunctional relationships.
C) Allow parties to debate political issues with one another.
D) Discourage clients from getting in touch with their feelings.
E) Resolve conflict through a settlement-focused approach, in which the facilitator evaluates the conflict and suggests specific solutions to the parties.

Question 5

During the STORMING stage of group development, a facilitator can expect

A) Lower levels of conflict, because clients are still getting to know one another.
B) Higher levels of conflict, because clients have already gone through the forming and norming stages.
C) No conflict, because that is a common rule for groups.
D) Group members to ask the facilitator to increase the levels of conflict, because most people would rather fight instead of acting civilly toward one another.
E) Only (a) and (b).

Question 6

During the NORMING stage of group development, conflict is most likely to arise because group members are

A) Grieving the loss of the group, because it is about to terminate.
B) Trying to figure out the expectations of the group, including expectations of how they should behave within the group.
C) Not yet part of the group.
D) Working effectively and efficiently on the goals of the group.
E) Venting emotions, with high levels of trust in the facilitator and other group members.

Question 7

To pre-empt the problem of group members with different agendas, a facilitator should

A) Introduce the facilitator's agenda at the start of the meeting and stick to it.
B) Have no agenda, but just go with the flow.
C) Negotiate an agenda with group members in advance, gaining their commitment to it prior to the start of the meeting.
D) Have the person with the most power at the meeting state the agenda and tell everyone to follow it.
E) Only (a) and (b).

Question 8

To assess why a particular group member is SILENT, a facilitator could

A) Observe the member's nonverbal behavior for cues.
B) Ask the group member during the group meeting.
C) Ask the group member in a separate, private caucus.
D) Invite all group members to provide written feedback.
E) All of the above.

Question 9

Competitive group members may use DOMINATION as a strategy to

A) Invite weaker parties to participate in a full discussion of the issues.
B) Help the facilitator empower the entire group.
C) Ensure that they get their way on key decisions.
D) Build a positive working relationship among all group members.
E) Recognize the needs of other group members.

Question 10

A DEBATE is a

A) Group encounter where people learn about themselves from intensive, collaborative interactions.
B) Problem-solving process used to help bring the parties to a win-win solution.
C) Court hearing where the parties present evidence and a state-appointed judge decides who is right, or whether someone needs to go to prison.
D) Friendly dialogue in which participants share personal and professional information.
E) Forum for discussion where conflicting parties advocate for particular positions.

Question 11

A DIALOGUE may be more appropriate than a debate when the group members are looking for a process that

A) Brings out the two polar extremes of the issues in dispute.
B) Encourages an open discussion of many points of view and many possible solutions.
C) Leads to a quick decision by a single person in a position of authority.
D) Fosters the competitive spirit between participants.
E) Encourages people to avoid discussion of difficult issues, even if they are important.

Question 12

IDENTITY-BASED group processes help groups deal with conflict by

A) Helping each group reflect on itself, including its social role expectations, in relation to the other group.
B) Helping group members view themselves as individuals rather than members of a social group.
C) Using a problem-solving process to help group members achieve specific tasks.
D) Reinforcing stereotypes of each group.
E) Only (a) and (b).

Question 13

For a group facilitator to determine the MOST APPROPRIATE APPROACH to employ, the facilitator should consider

A) The type of conflict.
B) The readiness of each party to participate in a particular type of process.
C) The goal for facilitation.
D) Whether a combination of approaches may be useful.
E) All of the above.

Question 14

What is the difference between a TASK GROUP and a COUNSELING GROUP? How does the facilitator's role differ depending on whether conflict arises in a task group or a counseling group?

Question 15

Identify three strategies a facilitator could use to deal with a participant who is constantly interrupting others. Provide an example using a situation involving a case conference in which a therapeutic team is discussing a client who is homeless. A case aide named Arnie keeps interrupting others.

Question 16

What types of conflict are likely to arise during the NORMING stage of group formation?

Question 17

How can a facilitator help group members with the types of conflict that are more likely to arise during the ADJOURNING stage of group formation?

Question 18

Identify three differences between the role of a facilitator in a DIALOGUE process and the role of a facilitator in an IDENTITY-BASED process.

Question 19

Describe the role of a MODERATOR in a debate process.

Question 20

Gaston is SILENT during a group designed for single men who are having difficulty developing intimate relationships. Identify a possible reason for his SILENT behavior and describe how the facilitator should address Gaston's SILENCE, given the reason that you have identified.

Question 21

The rich people in a group say they want to talk about crime in the community. The poor people in the group say they want to talk about lack of well-paying jobs. Describe a strategy that a facilitator could use to help these two subgroups figure out how to proceed. Identify whether your strategy fits with a particular type of group process (e.g., dialogue, debate, identity-based).

Question 22

Describe two different strategies that a facilitator could use to help a group that seems plagued by LOST ATTENTION and LACK OF FOCUS.

Question 23

Compare and contrast the role of a FACILITATOR and the role of a MEDIATOR.

Question 24

Identify three differences between facilitating a CR process between two INDIVIDUALS and facilitating a CR process between two GROUPS.

Question 25

What are some reasons that group members might not say what they are really thinking? Provide an example using a political group that is discussing who to support in an upcoming election. How might a facilitator deal with this problem?

Question 26

What does the following Anaïs Nin quotation mean? "We don't see things as they are. We see them as we are." Relate your answer to identify-based conflict resolution.

Question 27

Describe a cultural island model to identity-based conflict resolution. What are its key components?

Question 28

What are the main goals of a debate format for conflict resolution?