1. A content analysis of a discussion can be made of
2. An observer who helps participants in a discussion think of and apply beneficial small group communication
principles and techniques is called a(n) ______________ observer.
3. A nonparticipant observer who is analogous to a parliamentarian for a large group meeting is called a(n)
______________.
4. Postmeeting reaction questionnaires are completed by ______________ discussions.
5. When a consultant provides basic information about small group processes, she is serving which function?
6. A descriptive analysis and evaluation of the group’s strengths and weaknesses is called a:
7. A proper critique should contain which of the following?
8. Before trying to observe systematically, the textbook authors suggest that you _____________ observing
discussions.
9. Which of the following is not recommended as an effective tool for providing feedback as a consultant?
10. Consultants are advised to: avoid harming group members, tell the truth, make constructive criticisms, and
respect the privacy of group members. These standards of personal conduct are also referred to as:
11. The technique made by an observer to evaluate relationships among members of a group is called:
12. A technique that examines the content of remarks made during a discussion is called a:
13. SYMLOG theory assumes that behavior of each group member can be classified along three independent
dimensions. Which of the following is not one of the dimensions of SYMLOG theory?
14. Verbal interaction diagrams describe:
15. You are interested in a group’s topic of discussion as well of the types of questions being asked. Which is
the best type of assessment for getting this information?
16. Reveals who talks to whom, how often each member participates orally, and whether the group has
members who dominate or who do not speak up
17. Might examine the topics discussed by a group
18. A methodology that permits a three-dimensional diagram to be constructed of a group
19. Identification of strengths and weaknesses in a small group’s process
20. Questionnaire given at the end of the meeting to get objective feedback
21. Remind a group of overlooked principles of discussion
22. Give a descriptive analysis of the group’s strengths and weaknesses
23. Correct a problem as soon as you see it
24. Spend time practicing
25. Be thorough, cover every problem you can
26. Stress the positive first
27. Teach about small group processes
28. Effective Group Discussion says that being a student of small group interaction requires spending many
hours as a nonparticipant observer of small groups.
29. Regular group members serving as “reminders” are not as effective in improving group decisions as group
leaders who serve as “reminders.”
30. Effective Group Discussion recommends that continuing groups schedule frequent evaluations of their
throughput processes.
31. A verbal interaction diagram shows who speaks to whom, but not how often.
32. An observer should focus attention on one or two characteristics of a discussion at a time.
33. Data from PMR questionnaires should be given to all group members rather than to just the leader.
34. An observer whose function is “reminding” should pay more attention to group procedures and interaction
than to individual behavioral functions.
35. An observer whose major function was as a critic would report his or her personal evaluations but not ask
questions of the group during a critique.
36. Any characteristic of individual or group behavior can be rated by either group members or nonparticipant
observers.
37. Rating scales are often included on PMR forms.
38. Members of a group should be asked to put their names on PMR questionnaires they fill out.
39. As part of their job descriptions, “organizational communication specialists” are likely to serve as consulting
observers to small groups.
40. Effective Group Discussion claims that it is unethical for a nonparticipant observer to ridicule or make fun
of a participant he or she has observed.
41. Galanes, Adams, and Brilhart say that if you are going to give evaluations of participants you observe
during small group meetings to supervisors or the personnel office, it is unwise to let the people you are
42. Observers should sit ________________________ during a “fishbowl” discussion?
43. Student observers can usually gain permission to observe private small groups if they explain that they are
there as students and promise ______________.
44. A physical arrangement in which a group of observers sit around the outside of a discussion group is called
a(n) ______________ discussion.
45. Written feedback, consisting of reactions of participants to a meeting, is given on ______________ forms.
PMR; postmeeting reaction
46. Critiques or reminder comments to a discussion leader should be made ______________.
47. A descriptive analysis and evaluation of a discussion is called a ______________ of that discussion.
48. If you plan to report any data from a meeting you observe for a class project, you should do what and
when?
49. Imagine that you have a job as an organizational communication specialist in the training department of a
large corporation. You’ve been assigned to serve as nonparticipant consultant observer for meetings of several
research and development teams, which conduct applied research to improve products or create new ones. The
purpose is to help these teams have more efficient, effective meetings-meetings for sharing and interpreting
information, solving problems, making decisions, and implementing new product deigns. HOW (in what
manner) would you make suggestions based on your observations? Remember, most of the participants in the
groups are scientists.
50. How can you plan to observe a group problem-solving meeting as a consultant so that you focus on
significant trends without becoming overwhelmed by the complexity of a group’s interaction?
51. While observing a meeting of a group of architects who have been asked to reduce the time required to
produce plans for building, you discover that the group keeps switching topics or issues every few minutes
without reaching any decisions about what is causing the problem or what to do. When asked by the group’s
coordinator, what might you say about what you have observed? You have been asked by your boss to help this
group accomplish its assignment.
52. Effective Group Discussion says that a critic observer’s report to a group after a meeting has ended might
include comments about four major aspects observed during the meeting. Name and explain briefly these four
aspects of a meeting.
53. How could you ethically use a group you observed as an example of inefficient or even harmful group
behavior?
54. What is (are) the purpose(s) of postmeeting reaction forms? How would you proceed to prepare such a
document for a group of which you are the designated chair?
55. Create a hypothetical Verbal Interaction Diagram for a meeting of an imaginary group of five persons,
including a designated chair, who meet in a conference room of the Jonesville Municipal Library at 7:30 P.M.
on February 14, 1997.
