Deck 4: Group Development

Question 1

You're a member of Smith's Dark Beer Drinking Social Group. You observe a pattern of behavior among group members that discourages loud talking and laughter during discussions. This shows

A) an explicit norm.
B) secondary tension.
C) an implicit norm.
D) entropy.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The Allen Curve

A) asserts that decreased proximity (physical closeness) to others actually increases the amount of emails shared with each other.
B) posits that "clusters of high communication" are increased the physically closer group members are to each other and are decreased the farther apart they are establishing a system of accountability.
C) notes that groups develop closeness over long periods of time valuing the contributions of low participators.
D) None of the above

Answer 2

B

Question 3

There are two primary dimensions of every group. They are

A) cohesiveness and conformity.
B) productivity and task.
C) task and functional.
D) task and social.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Groups can build cohesiveness among members by

A) encouraging compatible membership.
B) developing strong, competitive goals.
C) threatening expulsion of any members who trigger disagreement.
D) focusing most efforts on task accomplishment.

Question 5

Social identity theory explains that

A) groups provide us with a meaningful identity.
B) as identification with a group increases, antisocial groups such as gangs lose personal meaningfulness.
C) only pro-social groups encourage meaningful identity.
D) All of the above

Question 6

Which of the following is a condition that influences the degree of conformity in groups?

A) The stronger the cohesiveness, the greater the conformity.
B) The weaker the cohesiveness, the greater the conformity.
C) Conformity decreases as the task importance increases.
D) Conformity is less when individuals expect to be group members for a long time.

Question 7

Groups typically respond to nonconformity from a member by using four strategies. These are

A) reason, seduction, deviance, and conflict management.
B) reason, ostracism, isolation, and persuasion.
C) reason, seduction, coercion, ostracism.
D) peer pressure, ostracism, coercion, isolation.

Question 8

The Collective Effort Model suggests that

A) group members are strongly motivated to perform well in a group if they are convinced that their individual effort will likely help in attaining valued results.
B) group members working together can produce strong cohesiveness.
C) group members must be wary of social compensation influences to be effective.
D) social loafers are the product of little concern for members' social welfare in the group.

Question 9

You have a member of your group who refuses to conform to the most basic of norms. You say to him, "Why cause such turmoil in our group? The only person it hurts is you. You're wasting your time and that of the group." Your reaction is a strategy to address nonconformity is called

A) coercion.
B) seduction.
C) isolation.
D) ostracism.

Question 10

Social compensation is most likely to occur in a group when

A) group cohesiveness is very high.
B) all group members are highly motivated to accomplish group tasks.
C) a high-ability member realizes that his or her maximum effort is required for the group to be successful because other group members have less ability to perform effectively.
D) All of the above

Question 11

Individuals typically outperform groups when

A) both the group and individuals are without expertise.
B) the task requires a wide range of information and skills.
C) the group and individual both have expertise relevant to the task.
D) time is a critical factor (e.g., emergencies).

Question 12

Conformity

A) is always to be discouraged in any group.
B) is the same as cohesiveness.
C) is the adherence to group norms by group members.
D) All of the above

Question 13

Social loafing is

A) another term for shyness.
B) the tendency of a group member to exert less effort on a task when working in a group than when working individually.
C) another name for social compensation.
D) All of the above

Question 14

In general, an important goal for all groups regarding the relationship between the task and social dimensions of groups should be one in which

A) an optimum balance of the two is reached.
B) the task dimension receives much greater emphasis for maximum productivity.
C) the social dimension receives much greater emphasis for maximum cohesiveness.
D) the task and social dimensions are kept separate.

Question 15

Diverse group membership poses which of the following challenges?

A) Increased difficulty achieving agreement.
B) Cohesiveness and group satisfaction can be difficult to develop and maintain.
C) Conflict and misunderstandings may emerge more often.
D) All of the above

Question 16

We typically conform to group norms

A) to be liked by group members.
B) to be perceived as performing correct behavior so we can avoid embarrassing ourselves.
C) because we live in an individualist culture.
D) Both a and b

Question 17

When group members feel a part of the group, stay committed to it, and wish to remain in the group, this is called

A) productivity.
B) task dimension.
C) cohesiveness.
D) synergy.

Question 18

Diverse group membership has which of the following potential benefits?

A) A wide array of problem-solving and decision-making resources are available.
B) Biases of group members are likely to be addressed.
C) Group performance may be enhanced.
D) All of the above

Question 19

If more emphasis is placed on the task dimension than the social dimension of a group

A) cohesiveness will likely increase because of greater task accomplishment.
B) productivity will likely increase.
C) cohesiveness will likely decrease because working on the task takes away from relating to group members and having fun.
D) no particular pattern of group effectiveness is discernible.

Question 20

A competent communicator exhibits a sensitivity to the needs of the group during the norming periodic phase of development by

A) adapting communication to the norms of the group.
B) encouraging change when norms are excessively rigid.
C) encouraging change when norms are too elastic.
D) discouraging disagreement.

Question 21

In past groups you have witnessed several instances of social loafing. To diminish social loafing in your new group, you and other group members should

A) establish a group responsibility norm.
B) identify individual tasks and evaluate each member's contribution to the accomplishment of the task.
C) note the importance of each member's contribution to group success.
D) talk to any loafer privately and ask why the lethargic attitude exists.

Question 22

Groups typically outperform individuals when

A) the task requires a wide range and variety of information.
B) both the group and any individual are without expertise.
C) both the group and the individual have expertise and the task is an especially complex one.
D) quick action is warranted.

Question 23

Your group forms for the first time. To address primary tension that will typically occur among group members at the initial meeting of the group, you should

A) avoid disagreement.
B) engage in small talk with other group members.
C) express positive attitudes.
D) avoid superficial conversation on frivolous topics.

Question 24

A competent communicator can effectively address secondary tension in a group by

A) being an active listener.
B) using humor to lighten the tension.
C) disagreeing without being disagreeable.
D) discouraging disagreement.

Question 25

Group development proceeds sequentially in step-by-step phases from forming to storming then to norming and finally to performing.

Question 26

Social loafing is more likely to occur in very small groups than in very large groups.

Question 27

The general purpose of group norms is to achieve group goals.

Question 28

One of your group members consistently "goofs off" during discussions. This is negative synergy in action.

Question 29

A group can never have too much cohesiveness because it is the bond that cements members together as a team.

Question 30

Primary tension rarely occurs in small groups, but often in large groups.

Question 31

The stronger the cohesiveness in a group, the greater is the nonconformity to group norms.

Question 32

The best way to diminish primary tension in a group is to discuss serious topics that will encourage lively debate on controversial issues.

Question 33

Social compensation is especially likely when high-ability group members are suspected of loafing.

Question 34

A primary goal of small groups and teams should be to eliminate secondary tension.

Question 35

Conformity to norms is a negative phenomenon in groups and should be strongly discouraged.

Question 36

Over-claiming of responsibility refers to group members who have contributed nothing to the group's output but claim equal contributions.

Question 37

When members of your group are enjoying each other's company and experiencing positive social relations, this is called conformity.

Question 38

A reason why groups outperform individuals on most broad range tasks is because of the pooling of knowledge among group members.

Question 39

Conformity to group norms is less when individuals expect to be group members for a long time.

Question 40

When group members experience the normal jitters and feelings of unease when first congregating in groups, this is an example of secondary tension.

Question 41

The output of the task dimension is cohesiveness; the output of the social dimension is productivity.

Question 42

Diversity of group membership usually counteracts biases more effectively than is likely in more homogeneous (similar members) groups.

Question 43

Diversity in members poses significant challenges, such as an increased difficulty achieving agreement.

Question 44

A group's inability to accomplish tasks and to maintain a satisfying social climate is a general rule of thumb for determining excessive tension in a group.

Question 45

When the group task requires a wide range and variety of information and skills, groups tend to be less effective than any individual might be.

Question 46

It is important that you eliminate secondary tension in your group at the earliest possible opportunity.

Question 47

Virtual groups seem to require more time than face-to-face groups to develop positive social relationships and cohesiveness.

Question 48

Behavioral-output control theory posits that social loafing, especially in virtual groups, can be addressed effectively by comparing group members' performance with predetermined behavioral expectations and holding members' performance accountable to meeting those expectations.

Question 49

Social loafing is potentially a greater challenge in virtual groups than in face-to-face groups.