Deck 10: Decision-Making and Leadership in Groups

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT an example of a group decision?

A) A faculty committee choosing what textbook to use
B) A jury deciding if a defendant is guilty
C) A fraternity hazing a new member
D) Cardinals in the Catholic Church choosing a new pope

Answer 1

A fraternity hazing a new member

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a common way for a group to make decisions?

A) Conflict resolution
B) Nominal group technique
C) Brainstorming
D) Ideawriting

Answer 2

Conflict resolution

Question 3

Which of the following allows group members to offer any ideas they wish and to create a list of all the proposed ideas before any of the ideas are debated?

A) Ideawriting
B) Nominal group technique
C) Creating
D) Brainstorming

Answer 3

Brainstorming

Question 4

Navajo is in a small group working on a project for his literature class. No one is willing to offer ideas, as they don't know each other, and Navajo suspects they are afraid of being ridiculed. Because ___________ allows members to generate ideas on a master list before any are debated, Navajo thinks this might be the best way for his group to generate ideas.

A) Nominal group technique
B) Brainstorming
C) Consensus
D) Ideawriting

Question 5

In his hospitality and tourism course, Henry and his study group are charged with doing an ad campaign on a destination of their choosing. Henry suggests they think about somewhere cold, as he is sure the rest of the groups will choose tropical locations. Hannah, another group member, is reminded of Canada's Hôtel de Glace, a hotel made entirely of ice and snow. The group loves the creative and unusual idea that came from ______________ during brainstorming.

A) piggybacking
B) encouraging creativity
C) focusing on quantity
D) not criticizing

Question 6

____________ calls for group members to generate their initial ideas silently and independently and then to combine them and consider them as a group.

A) Brainstorming
B) Consensus
C) Nominal group technique
D) Ideawriting

Question 7

The major advantage of _______________ over brainstorming is that it can encourage participation from members who might be uncomfortable contributing their ideas aloud.

A) ideawriting
B) nominal group technique
C) consensus
D) brainstorming

Question 8

Which of the following encourages members to generate and evaluate ideas in writing while working independently?

A) Nominal group technique
B) Brainstorming
C) Consensus
D) Ideawriting

Question 9

What is the LEAST collaborative idea-generation method, in which group members accomplish most of the steps while working individually?

A) Ideawriting
B) Nominal group technique
C) Brainstorming
D) Consensus

Question 10

Liam's group is trying to come up with ideas for their group project, so each group member creates a list of ideas and why they think each idea has merit. They each read each other's lists, offering comments about strengths and weaknesses. Once Liam gets his list back with the others' comments, he then writes his own reaction to those comments, and then it goes back into the pile so the group can finally make a master list of ideas worthy of additional discussion. Liam's group is using what method of idea generation?

A) Nominal group technique
B) Ideawriting
C) Brainstorming
D) Consensus

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a group decision-making method?

A) Brainstorming
B) Majority rule
C) Consensus
D) Authority rule

Question 12

When a group reaches ____________, there is unanimous support of a decision.

A) a choice
B) voting
C) stalemate
D) consensus

Question 13

Omar's group wants to come to consensus on the ad campaign for a new product. Although the group is committed, after many long, frustrating discussions, they reach a ___________, so they must resort to some other form of decision-making.

A) vote
B) stalemate
C) false consensus
D) nominal group technique

Question 14

If someone says, "Let's take a vote"when a group decision is looming, he or she is probably recommending what decision-making strategy?

A) Stalemate
B) Expert opinion
C) Majority rule
D) Consensus

Question 15

When her bank merges with another bank, Keiko's group, composed of 11 people, is charged with choosing the new company logo. The group finds it impossible to come to consensus, so they take a vote. Six vote in favor of one logo, whereas Keiko and four others vote in favor of another, making the vote 6 to 5. Keiko and the others in the minority are upset, as they feel that such a close vote warrants further discussion. Keiko and the rest of the minority should remember that when using _______________ to make decisions, everyone in a group implicitly agrees to support the majority decision.

A) minority rule
B) majority rule
C) consensus
D) voting

Question 16

BioTech University has a large biology department, with 38 faculty members teaching, 25 of whom are adjuncts (part-time professors). For the sake of efficiency, every three years a committee of 10 full-time faculty members makes the decision as to what textbook will be used in the basic biology foundation course. By using ____________ decision-making, the BioTech biology department saves the faculty's time for other pursuits for the department.

A) minority rule
B) majority rule
C) consensus
D) expert opinion

Question 17

______________ works on the principle that some people have better judgment or more informed opinions on specific topics or matters than others.

A) Minority rule
B) Consensus
C) Authority rule
D) Expert opinion

Question 18

In the Toy Story movies, a child's favorite toy, Woody, tends to make the decisions for the group of toys that live in his room. Although he does try to look out for the best interests of all the toys, his ____________ approach to decision making can leave the other toys feeling frustrated and questioning Woody's right to make decisions on behalf of the group.

A) minority rule
B) expert opinion
C) authority rule
D) majority opinion

Question 19

Which of the following is usually NOT a factor in determining the method a group uses to make decisions?

A) How important the decision is
B) How quickly the decision must be made
C) Whether the decision requires expert knowledge
D) Whether the group wants everyone to be content

Question 20

When working in groups, Lani is very concerned with reaching consensus and she always values what is best for the group over what she personally wants. Which cultural influence is at work when Lani is in a group?

A) Individualism affects decision-making
B) Power distance affects decision-making
C) Time orientation affects decision-making
D) Context affects decision-making

Question 21

Groups from monochromic cultures may opt for majority rule, minority rule, or authority rule because those methods use time efficiently, whereas groups from polychromic cultures may try achieving consensus if they believe that method will produce a better decision. This is because _______________ affects decision-making.

A) power distance
B) time orientation
C) context
D) individualism

Question 22

A _________ is a characteristic of a person that is relatively enduring and not easily changeable.

A) personality
B) feature
C) trait
D) quality

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT a physical trait that tends to influence 1) who is likely to become a leader and 2) how effective that leader is perceived to be?

A) Sex
B) Height
C) Physical appearance
D) Education

Question 24

Twenty-nine of the 44 U.S. presidents have been taller than the average U.S. adult man, and since 1990, the taller candidate for president has won the popular vote 66 percent of the time. This could be related to our perception of which physical trait contributing toward a more effective leader?

A) Ethnicity
B) Sex
C) Height
D) Physical appearance

Question 25

Studies have shown that leaders with masculine-looking faces are judged as more competent than are leaders with feminine-looking faces because _____________ plays a role in people's perception of effective leadership.

A) physical appearance
B) sex
C) height
D) ethnicity

Question 26

Many effective leaders share particular ___________ traits, which are characteristics of their personality and ways of relating to others.

A) physical
B) psychosocial
C) physiological
D) cultural

Question 27

Some researchers have suggested that people who are high ___________ are able to perceive the needs of others in a group and adapt their own behavior to meet those needs, which can lead to leadership emergence.

A) self-esteemed
B) self-monitors
C) face-workers
D) extroverts

Question 28

Although Anna is shy and reserved in her study groups, she applies to be a study group leader at her college student instruction center. She feels she would be very helpful to others in her major of mathematics, and could lead students to success in a challenging subject area. The other applicant for the job, Olena, is more assertive and outgoing. Although Olena is not as strong in math, she ends up getting the position. It is likely that Anna's ____________ made her appear to be a less effective leader to the student instruction center.

A) communication apprehension
B) extroversion
C) introversion
D) personality

Question 29

Leadership is inherently social, so ________ tend to excel at leadership because they are friendly, assertive, and outgoing with others.

A) introverts
B) extroverts
C) loud people
D) high self-monitors

Question 30

Group leaders who enact a(n) ___________ leadership style reflect the principle that every citizen has the right to participate in decision-making.

A) democratic
B) autocratic
C) laissez-faire
D) strong

Question 31

Marcos is the chairperson of an executive board for a pharmaceutical company. The decisions his board makes have far-reaching consequences for how the company is run. Marcos thinks it is important that all members of his committee be given the chance to speak and that all ideas be considered equally, regardless of controversy. When it comes time to a vote, Marcos counts everyone's votes equally and he supports the will of the majority even if it doesn't reflect his own preferences. What style of leadership does Marcos have?

A) Autocratic
B) Democratic
C) Fair
D) Laissez-faire

Question 32

If a leader takes charge of a group and controls how each meeting progresses and how each decision is made, that leader is

A) controlling.
B) democratic.
C) laissez-faire.
D) autocratic.

Question 33

A _____________ leader believes group members should work independently, with little direction or personal involvement from him or her.

A) laissez-faire
B) liberal
C) autocratic
D) democratic

Question 34

John runs the sociology department at a major university, and he has 14 faculty members teaching in his department. John believes each faculty member understands his or her function at the college, so he does not interfere with their day-to-day work. John feels the faculty members are professionals who understand how best to do their jobs. When a conflict arises with a student or other faculty member, John will sit in on a meeting only if specifically invited, and he rarely offers his opinion or tells the faculty how to resolve the issue. John exhibits a _______________ style of leadership.

A) lazy
B) laissez-faire
C) relaxed
D) autocratic

Question 35

If a group's priority is to accomplish its task quickly, which style of leadership would most likely be more effective?

A) Autocratic
B) Democratic
C) Consensus
D) Laissez-faire

Question 36

Which leadership approach is likely to backfire when group members lack the skills or training to work autonomously?

A) Consensus
B) Democratic
C) Laissez-faire
D) Autocratic

Question 37

______________ gives one the ability to influence or control people or events.

A) Power
B) Authority
C) Command
D) Dominance

Question 38

Alice teaches an interpersonal communication course. She finds that when she exercises ________ power by giving extra credit or bringing her class treats, her students are more motivated to participate in class.

A) coercive
B) referent
C) reward
D) expert

Question 39

A judge has ____________ power because he or she can punish you with fines or imprisonment for not doing as he or she says.

A) expert
B) referent
C) legitimate
D) coercive

Question 40

Although she knows it is wrong, Sarah decides to copy her English term paper from an online source because she has heard from friends at her college that there isn't a strong policy against plagiarism. She knows that if she gets caught, the most that would happen is a warning not to do it again. Because the college lacks a policy that inflicts a sufficient punishment, Sarah is not concerned with its _____________ power.

A) coercive
B) expert
C) legitimate
D) reward

Question 41

Which type of power is most likely to become emotionally abusive if misused?

A) Expert
B) Legitimate
C) Referent
D) Coercive

Question 42

the power of attraction-the idea that we tend to comply with requests made by people we like, admire, or find attractive in some way-is also called _________ power.

A) coercive
B) referent
C) expert
D) legitimate

Question 43

In a study group, you might work harder for a group leader you like and admire than for one you dislike because of what type of power?

A) Referent
B) Legitimate
C) Reward
D) Expert

Question 44

Proactive, an acne treatment, has been endorsed by many celebrity spokespeople, including Jessica Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, and Sean "P-Diddy" Combs. Proactive is hoping to sell more of its products because it believes these and other celebrities have __________ power that will influence consumers to want to be like them.

A) expert
B) referent
C) reward
D) legitimate

Question 45

When the president of the United States meets with his cabinet, members of that group follow the president's directives because he has what type of power?

A) Expert
B) Referent
C) Coercive
D) Legitimate

Question 46

Alita is appointed to a temporary supervisory position at work when her boss goes on medical leave. Alita is in charge of answering employees' questions, settling conflicts, and approving sick and vacation days. When Alita's supervisor returns, Alita can no longer perform those functions because she has lost her ________ power.

A) legitimate
B) coercive
C) expert
D) reward

Question 47

_________ power stems from having proficiency in a particular area.

A) Coercive
B) Legitimate
C) Expert
D) Referent

Question 48

Many socialist and communist governments exercise _________ power over their populations by controlling all of the media in their countries.

A) coercive
B) expert
C) referent
D) informational

Question 49

Jean is working on a group project in his sociology class on the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Since Jean has family in Haiti, his group has asked him to interview family members about their experiences during the event. Because Jean is the only one in his group with access to those data, Jean now has ______________ in his group.

A) informational power
B) expert power
C) referent power
D) coercive power

Question 50

regardless of what forms of power we possess, each of us exercises power that is limited to particular people in particular situations, because power

A) requires recognition.
B) is coercive.
C) is relative.
D) requires followers.

Question 51

In the early 1990s, David Koresh was the leader of a Branch Davidian religious sect, believing himself to be its final prophet. The U.S. government raided his compound in 1993, a move that ended in the death of Koresh and his followers. The fact that Koresh's followers believed him to be their prophet and were therefore willing to stand with him, shows that power

A) is coercive.
B) is relative.
C) is corruptive.
D) requires recognition.

Question 52

Which of the following is NOT a major strategy for engaging in group conflict?

A) Avoiding
B) Competing
C) Collaborating
D) Opposing

Question 53

If you have a ___________ style during conflict, your goal is to win the conflict while the other party loses.

A) avoiding
B) opposing
C) competing
D) collaborating

Question 54

Ignoring conflict while hoping it will go away is an example of which approach to conflict?

A) Avoiding
B) Competing
C) Compromising
D) Collaborating

Question 55

Which approach to conflict reflects a high level of concern for the other party but a low level of concern for the self?

A) Avoiding
B) Accommodating
C) Compromising
D) Collaborating

Question 56

Tyler has applied for a job at a local radio station. The station manager likes Tyler and thinks he would do well at the station but doesn't have the money in his budget to pay Tyler's asking salary. Tyler cannot afford to take an unpaid internship. Tyler and the station manager come to an agreement on a modest salary. It is far less than Tyler had hoped to make, but by __________________, Tyler is able to secure this position he really wants at the radio station.

A) collaborating
B) debating
C) competing
D) compromising

Question 57

If your goal is to arrive at a win-win situation that maximizes both parties' gains, you are _________________ during conflict.

A) collaborating
B) avoiding
C) competing
D) compromising

Question 58

When group members engage in ____________, they seek unanimous agreement despite their individual doubts.

A) collaborating
B) compromising
C) groupthink
D) avoidance

Question 59

Which of the following is a warning sign of groupthink?

A) Individual rationalization
B) Pressure for individualism
C) Illusion of morality
D) Illusion of vulnerability

Question 60

When group members are overly confident in their position, ignoring obvious problems, they suffer from which of the following?

A) Collective rationalization
B) Excessive stereotyping
C) Pressure for conformity
D) Illusion of invulnerability

Question 61

If you feel pressure to agree with your group's decision, and fear being branded disloyal if you do not, you are feeling the pressure

A) for conformity.
B) to placate.
C) of unanimity.
D) to mindguard.

Question 62

Some group members actively prevent the group from hearing about arguments or evidence against the group's position because of

A) self-censorship.
B) mindguards.
C) pressure for conformity.
D) excessive stereotyping.

Question 63

____________ is particularly likely to occur when a group has a strong, authoritarian leader; is composed of members with similar backgrounds; and is isolated from outside influence.

A) Groupthink
B) Conformity
C) Agreement
D) Obedience

Question 64

On the reality television show Survivor, contestant Russell Hantz made the comment, "I don't know, this might be the worst group in history and I might be the best. I'm gonna have them under control, all like zombies walking around". Hantz seems to be planning on ____________ to help him get ahead in the game.

A) conformity
B) obedience
C) conflict
D) groupthink

Question 65

Which of the following is NOT a step that group members can take to prevent groupthink?

A) Be aware of the potential for groupthink.
B) Make sure the group has limited time in which to make decisions.
C) Encourage dissenting viewpoints.
D) Give important decisions a second chance.

Question 66

Noise, boredom, and information overload are all examples of barriers to effective

A) leadership in groups.
B) communication in groups.
C) listening in groups.
D) conflict resolution in groups.

Question 67

Christian is in a study group for his physics class. As the group prepares for the final exam, Christian is having trouble keeping track of all of the information being called out by the group. Christian most likely won't find the study session useful because of

A) information overload.
B) boredom.
C) rebuttal tendency.
D) noise.

Question 68

Which of the following can be a particularly common barrier to effective listening in groups that evaluate or analyze, because members of such groups may disagree on the merits of the various ideas they're discussing?

A) Noise
B) Boredom
C) Information overload
D) Rebuttal tendency

Question 69

Which type of listening skill is especially important in groups that have to make important decisions, such as a state legislature or a corporate board of directors?

A) Informational
B) Effective
C) Critical
D) Empathic