Group Communications: Definitions, Research, and Designs, Quizzes of Communication

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TERM 1 Group DEFINITION 1 Two or more interdependent individuals who influence each other through social interaction TERM 2 Defining qualities of a group DEFINITION 2 interaction = a group needs message exchange between membersinterdependence toward common goals = can't do it alone, you need the other members of the groupinfluence = people are changed by group experience TERM 3 Common qualities/characteristics of a group DEFINITION 3 structure = skeleton, nuts and bolts of group, roles, norms, status roles = leader, joke teller, note taker... norms = unspoken rules status = prestige, respect in a group emotional ties = members like each othersocial identity = members define themselves as a member of a groupentitativity = people appear to be a group from external observersdynamic = groups are always changing, new members for examplesize = at least two people vs. at least 3 people is being debated TERM 4 An interdisciplinary field DEFINITION 4 Group com is studied in Anthropology, Communications, Business and others TERM 5 Group Communications roots DEFINITION 5 The study of group communications began in Social Psychology TERM 6 What do group researchers study? DEFINITION 6 Group composition 4% Ecology of groups 5% Group structure 6% Group performance 13% Conflict in groups 14% Inter-group relations 58% TERM 7 Reasons that group research is declining DEFINITION 7 focus on individual over groups favor zero-history lab groups over groups in context the main focus is on group decision making over other topics poor theoretical development group communication is fragmentized group researchers are scattered across many fields methodological and logistic difficulties TERM 8 Reasons that group research is thriving DEFINITION 8 much research if you define groups broadly research just isn't labeled researchers in OB (organized behavior) are keeping group research alive because they have more money A new group COM division was established in '97 New group journals in 97-98 (GD, GPIR) new methodological tools (multi-level analysis) Book on theories of small groups ('05) Formation of INGRoup in '06 (Interdisciplinary Network for Group Research) TERM 9 The Scientific Method DEFINITION 9 Determine a phenomenon to study (example: member status and participation rates in work groups) Develop a hypothesis, state a prediction (ex: high status members talk more than low status members) Chose a research design (case study, correlational design, experiment) Collect data: measurement (observation, self-report) Analyze the data Draw conclusions and implications TERM 10 Case Study DEFINITION 10 an in-depth analysis of one or a few cases ex: the decision to launch the challenger characteristics: often uses observational methods qualitative, narrative story advantages: deep analysis, relatively easy to do disadvantages: unrepresentative (only studies 1 group), subjective(researcher can be part of the group being studied) TERM 21 DIP DEFINITION 21 Dyadic interaction paradigm: Two people come into the lab and are asked to wait while the research assistant goes to get more questionnaire forms. During this time they are left alone in a room together for 6 minutes. A conversation will begin and it is then video-taped. Once the researcher gains permission, the two participants watch the tape alone and are asked to guess what the other person was thinking during certain points in the film. This study is used to test empathic accuracy. TERM 22 DIP: Further look DEFINITION 22 What type of observation was used? Covert (didn't know they were being taped) Structured observation (researcher was not present) Self-reporting and coding were used Communicative behaviors static: interpersonal distance, body orientation, body posture dynamic: verbalization, directed gaze, positive affect, expressive gestures correlation study to be used with DIP = first dates maybe? experiment = have people talk and video them secretly TERM 23 Who joins groups? DEFINITION 23 People who have an interdependent self-construal Females tend to join groups for emotional and social reasons Males tend to join groups for competitive reasons TERM 24 Extraversion DEFINITION 24 The tendency to seek positive social experiences. These people are generally more outgoing and energetic. TERM 25 Social anxiousness DEFINITION 25 Apprehension during interaction, shyness TERM 26 Why do groups form? DEFINITION 26 To fulfill people's needs and goals survival needs (if early humans were kicked out of the group they would die) psychological needs (affiliation, power, intimacy, FIRO) informational needs (social comparison to know what is true or appropriate. Looking to others for advice.) social support needs (emotional, informational, instrumental; reduces impact of stress) collective needs (when people realize their goal is best accomplished in a group) TERM 27 Ostracism DEFINITION 27 Being ignored by a group threatens four needs: belonging control meaningful existence self-esteem Paradigms: ball-toss (3 people, one gets left out) cyber-ball (computer program, one real person playing gets left out) life-alone (subject is told they will have a lonely life) TERM 28 Social comparison DEFINITION 28 A theory that explains how people evaluate themselves in comparison to others.Upward: You consider the person you compare yourself to as better than you are Downward: You consider yourself better than the person you are comparing yourself to TERM 29 With whom do we form groups? DEFINITION 29 With people we like. Physical proximity (we like people who are physically proximal, people we are in contact with all the time) Similarity principle (we like ppl who are like ourselves) Complementarity principle (we like ppl who complement our personal qualities) Reciprocity principle (we like people who like us) Physical attractiveness aka the halo effect (we like people who are attractive because we believe they have many other positive qualities) TERM 30 Group cohesion DEFINITION 30 Attraction: the member likes the other members and the groupUnity: solidarity, close connection, belongingTeamwork: coordination to get common goals metConsequences: turnover --> people don't want to leave conformity pressures --> ppl feel like they have to conform to the group performance --> cohesion can decrease group performance TERM 31 How does cohesion relate to performance? DEFINITION 31 Strong cohesion doesn't always result in high group performance. According to the Langfred study, groups with strong cohesion and strong work norms got more work done. Groups with strong cohesion but weak work norms actually got less work done because all they would do is goof off. TERM 32 Team-building DEFINITION 32 A common strategy leaders use to build cohesion in their group, but it doesn't necessarily improve work ethic. It call comes down to weak work norms vs. strong work norms. TERM 33 Tuckman's Succesive Stage Model DEFINITION 33 Forming: the orientation stage Storming: the conflict stage, Threshold theory (there is an optimal level of conflict in a group. Too little is bad, too much is bad.) Norming: The cohesion stage Performing: the task-performing stage Adjourning: the dissolution stage, when the group breaks up (planned vs. spontaneous) TERM 34 Threshold theory DEFINITION 34 There is an optimal level of conflict in a group. Too little or too much is bad. TERM 35 Equilibrium model DEFINITION 35 1st meeting and phase one (members may know each other already, really productive, plans adopted; group lacks direction) Transition (temporal midpoint, urgency, new plans adopted groups are natural procrastinators) Phase two and completion (completed projects, concern for outside evaluation) Features: predicts timing of phases applies to task forces (groups that meet once with a common goal/task to do)