Chapter 21: Planning and Presenting in Groups
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. All of the following characterize a small group EXCEPT
a. a limited number of people.
b. communication over a period of time.
c. communication through electronic media.
d. accomplishing specific goals.
2. Which of the following is NOT considered a small group?
a. Four students preparing for a class presentation
b. Four professionals preparing to speak as part of a conference
c. Four professionals preparing to pitch a business proposal
d. Four friends preparing to go to a movie
3. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a healthy group?
a. Members support one another.
b. Decisions are made by a group leader.
c. Members trust one another.
d. The group aims to excel.
4. Which of the following is a characteristic of a healthy group?
a. The group aims to have an average performance.
b. The group aims to excel.
c. The group has no common goal.
d. Members antagonize each other.
5. Each of the following can be a specific task of a working group EXCEPT
a. developing a campaign to present to a client.
b. developing a policy to recommend to management.
c. discussing conflicting opinions relative to a complex social issue.
d. having a friendly chat.
6. Every member of a group must pursue all of the following EXCEPT
a. fulfilling certain responsibilities.
b. recognizing how his or her performance contributes to the group’s attainment of its
goal.
c. recognizing how his or her performance detracts from the group’s attainment of its
goal.
d. attempting to take leadership position within the group.
7. To work effectively together, the first thing group members need to do is
a. to spend some time sharing their school and work schedules.
b. to get directly to their task to make sure they have enough time to accomplish it.
c. to discuss the rules of their project.
d. to communicate clearly with the group’s stakeholders.
8. Which of the following is NOT a way in which small group communication differs from
giving a speech?
a. Your attention needs to focus on the interaction among multiple speakers and
listeners.
b. In a speech, you will always know if your audience disagrees, but in a small group,
you may not.
c. When interacting in a group you and other group members will reach decisions
together.
d. Group members speak and listen to one another.
9. Positive group roles accomplish
a. task and maintenance functions.
b. only task functions.
c. only maintenance functions.
d. neither task nor maintenance functions.
10. Negative group roles
a. accomplish dual task and maintenance functions.
b. limit the group’s abilities to realize the group’s goal.
c. foster a concern for the needs and feelings of group members.
d. reveal an overriding concern for group success.
11. A group member can perform any of the following roles EXCEPT
a. task-oriented.
b. maintenance oriented.
c. self-serving.
d. collective.
12. Which of the following is a task-oriented role?
a. Gatekeeping
b. Standard setting
c. Blocking
d. Information seeking
13. ______ leadership behaviors include establishing an agenda, giving and soliciting
information and opinions, offering internal summaries that describe the group’s
progress, helping to keep the group on track, and helping the group to analyze and
evaluate issues and reach a consensus.
a. Task
b. Maintenance
c. Communication
d. Designated
14. ______ leadership behaviors include the expression of agreement and support, the
reduction and release of group tensions, the resolution of differences of opinion and
group conflicts, and the ability to enhance morale and increase member satisfaction.
a. Task
b. Maintenance
c. Communication
d. Group
15. Which of the following is NOT an advantage of group work?
a. Groups filter out costly errors before they do any damage.
b. Working in a group facilitates the separation of resources.
c. Reaching a decision in a group can be less personally reinforcing than reaching a
decision alone.
d. The act of participating in decision-making strengthens the commitment individuals
are willing to make to implement the decision.
16. A ______ refers to a group making a decision that is riskier than an individual
working alone would have been comfortable making.
a. dangerous shift
b. risky shift
c. risky move
d. dangerous move
17. Which of the following is step one of the Reflective Thinking Framework?
a. Define the problem.
b. Analyze the problem.
c. Establish criteria for solutions.
d. Select the best solution.
18. Which of the following is step five of the Reflective Thinking Framework?
a. Define the problem.
b. Analyze the problem.
c. Establish criteria for solutions.
d. Select the best solution.
19. Which of the following is a step of the Reflective Thinking Framework?
a. Define the problem.
b. Write down the problem.
c. Organize the solutions.
d. Rate the solutions.
20. Which of the following is NOT a question to ask yourself when using the Reflective
Thinking Framework?
a. Are the resources of all group members being well used?
b. Is the group using its time wisely?
c. Is the group deemphasizing inquiry?
d. Are members listening to and respecting the ideas and feelings of other members?
21. Framework helps group members avoid ______, the tendency to conclude
discussion prematurely.
a. early concurrence
b. premature concurrence
c. early agreement
d. premature agreement
22. Which of the following is a recommendation for successful brainstorming sessions?
a. Suspend judgment.
b. Discourage freewheeling.
c. Aim for quality of ideas.
d. Keep all ideas confidential.
23. Which of the following is NOT a component of the oral group report?
a. An introduction
b. A body
c. A conclusion
d. A Q&A session
24. ______ occurs when group members conduct a discussion in front of an audience.
a. Brainstorming
b. A meeting
c. A panel discussion
d. A symposium
25. Which of the following is NOT true of panel discussions?
a. The panel discussion is often memorized.
b. Most panel discussions include a moderator.
c. The topics are wide-ranging.
d. The audience eavesdrops on exchanges between group members.
26. ______ is a discussion in which a number of individuals present individual speeches
of approximately the same length on a central subject before the same audience.
a. Brainstorming
b. A meeting
c. A panel discussion
d. A symposium
27. Symposiums are designed for all of the following EXCEPT
a. to shed light on or explore different aspects of a problem.
b. to provide material for subsequent discussion.
c. to persuade audience members to act in a certain manner.
d. to review different steps covered during a group’s problem-solving experience.
28. The purpose of a forum is
a. to provide a medium for an open discussion between the group and an audience.
b. to restrain audience participation.
c. to put speakers in opposition with one another.
d. to explore different aspects of a problem.
29. Which of the following is NOT a stage groups generally move through?
a. Storming
b. Norming
c. Adjourning
d. Dorming
Short Answer
30. When you performed the maintenance-oriented role of ______, you responded
warmly, receptively, and supportively to others and their ideas.
31. The method of organizing the decision-making process that was derived from the
writings of philosopher and educator John Dewey and is called the ______ Framework.
32. During a ______ session all members of a group spontaneously contribute ideas
and try to collect as many ideas as possible in a short time without interrupting the
thought process.
33. ______ is the tendency to let the desire for consensus override careful analysis and
reasoned decision-making.
34. A ______ discussion requires group members to talk through an issue in front of an
audience.
35. A ______ is a discussion in which a number of individuals present individual
speeches of approximately the same length on a central subject before an audience.
36. The purpose of a ______ is to provide a medium for an open and interactive
discussion between the group and an audience.
True/False
37. The first thing a group should do is get to know one another.
38. Compromising is a maintenance-oriented role.
39. Leadership should be the exclusive possession of a single group-member in order
to avoid confusion.
40. The dynamics of a group’s development generally do not affect the outcomes the
group is able to achieve.
21.3. Demonstrate how group leaders and members contribute to or detract from a
group’s effectiveness
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
41. When we know other people are available to cover for us, we may slack off.
42. You should approach the oral report of group work as you would any other speech.
43. A forum doesn’t require full audience participation.
Essay
44. Discuss and exemplify the requirements that apply to both giving a speech and
communicating in a small group.
Ans: Area to explain: You need to have a command of the subject, supporting your
45. Discuss and exemplify how the Reflective Thinking Framework helps groups avoid
groupthink.
Ans: Area to explain: By requiring members to explore all data and evaluate alternative
46. Discuss and exemplify what should be included in the body of your oral group
report.
47. Discuss and exemplify how a panel discussion works.
Ans: Area to explain: A panel discussion requires group members to talk through an
48. Discuss and exemplify what happens to groups at the “norming” stage.
Ans: Area to explain: Leaders tend to emerge and roles are solidified. Behavior tends to