Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
CHAPTER 16: PARTICIPATING IN GROUPS AND TEAMS
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1) Leaders must help address two sets of needs found in all groups, which are identified as
A) task needs and cognitive needs.
B) maintenance needs and task needs.
C) cognitive needs and emotional needs.
D) task needs and psychological needs.
E) emotional needs and maintenance needs.
2) The more a group acts or becomes like a team, the
A) less likely they are to cooperate fully.
B) more likely they are to engage in conflict.
C) less likely they are to form a strong sense of identity.
D) more likely they are to form a close-knit relationship.
E) less likely it is that the group will be successful.
3) Two dimensions useful for understanding leadership behavior include
A) initiating structure and flexibility.
B) initiating structure and consideration.
C) flexibility and consideration.
D) autonomy and consideration.
E) flexibility and autonomy.
4) Group leaders who only get involved when called on and otherwise completely avoid participation are
referred to as
A) task-oriented leaders.
B) autocratic leaders.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
C) democratic leaders.
D) laissez-faire leaders.
E) absent leaders.
5) According to Dewey’s reflective thinking steps, the first step in group problem solving and decision making
is to identify the problem or topic for discussion. The second step is to
A) decide how to implement the solution.
B) determine how the problem might have been avoided.
C) define additional problems.
D) analyze the problem and its causes.
E) suggest possible solutions.
6) According to functional theory, which of the following task requirements does not need to be met for group
members to successfully complete their goal?
A) Members fully understand the problem or issue being discussed.
B) They know the minimum criteria for a successful solution.
C) They identify every possible solution from which to choose.
D) They evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of all the reasonable solutions against the agreed-upon
criteria for selecting the best.
E) They select the best solution.
7) When we classify group leaders as being autocratic, democratic, or laissez-faire, we are describing group
leaders according to
A) their titles or positions.
B) how much power they assign to the group members.
C) their abilities to manage the group’s finances.
D) their relational skills.
E) their analytical skills.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
8) Which of the following situations would most likely call for laissez-faire leadership?
A) A group conducting a study session
B) A group that wishes to elect a leader
C) A committee that must adhere to legal requirements
D) A group that has an important deadline to meet
E) A group that is experiencing an emergency
9) Research on group leadership styles indicates that
A) laissez-faire leaders generate more hostility and aggression among group members.
B) the laissez-faire style is superior to the autocratic style.
C) democratic leaders accomplish less and waste more time.
D) autocratic leaders are likely to get more done.
E) autocratic leaders produce more originality and individuality among group members.
10) Which of the following most closely approximates the definition of leadership?
A) A cluster of inborn traits
B) Behavior that is voluntarily accepted by group members and helps to achieve group goals
C) Coercion that is applied only when it is absolutely necessary in order to move a group toward its goals
D) Influential behavior involuntarily forced upon group members, but which moves the group toward its
objectives
E) Behaviors enacted by an individual assigned to coordinate group activities
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
11) What is the general goal of most problem-solving groups?
A) to fill the task and maintenance needs of members
B) to reach consensus on a decision or solution
C) to review all issues related to the problem
D) to implement the decision chosen by the leader
E) to manage group conflict
12) The democratic leadership style is most often used when
A) the group is under time constraints, such as deadlines.
B) group members are highly motivated to complete a task.
C) group members are unwilling to accept responsibility for implementing a decision.
D) a leader is elected.
E) the group is experiencing an emergency.
13) When is the optimum time for groups to evaluate their own effectiveness??
A) before beginning their initial task
B) during the problem analysis phase
C) during the “norming” stage of group development
D) after completion of a task
E) when conflict arises within the group
14) In general, research on leadership and gender differences suggests that
A) men are not reacted to as positively or with the same high regard as women.
B) both women and men seem to prefer having men in positions of authority.
C) when men serve as leaders, they tend to receive lower evaluations from both male and female
subordinates than women do.
D) men and women lead equally well.
E) both women and men seem to prefer having women in positions of authority.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
15) Which of the following statements is a guideline for phrasing discussion questions in a group setting?
A) The wording should use emotional language.
B) The wording should not focus attention on the real problem at hand.
C) The wording should specify whose behavior is subject to change.
D) The wording should suggest possible solutions.
E) The wording should reflect the individual interests of each and every group member.
16) The most successful small groups include members who
A) fill the task and group building/maintenance roles, and avoid the self-centered roles.
B) all focus strictly on the task roles.
C) all focus strictly on the group building /maintenance roles.
D) fill the task, group building/maintenance and self-centered roles.
E) avoid filling any specific group roles.
17) One of the greatest weaknesses of beginning group participants is their tendency to
A) arrive at meetings unprepared.
B) criticize other group members.
C) focus strictly on fulfilling self-centered roles in the group.
D) arrive late to group meetings.
E) focus strictly on fulfilling task-oriented roles in the group.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
18) As a group leader, Bill tightly controls the discussion and determines who will speak to whom. This is an
example of which type of leadership style?
A) democratic B) provocative C) laissez-faire D) bureaucratic E) autocratic
19) During discussions in a small group working on solving campus security problems, Erica always wants to be
the center of the group’s attention. This self-centered behavior is referred to as
A) blocking.
B) energizing.
C) recognition-seeking.
D) dominating.
E) acting the buffoon.
20) Applying Dewey’s “reflective thinking” to group problem-solving involves
A) clearly identifying the problem that needs to be solved.
B) confusing the causes of the problem with its symptoms.
C) waiting for someone in the group to appoint himself or herself as the leader.
D) suggesting solutions before fully analyzing the problem.
E) phrasing the problem as a declarative statement to help guide the discussion.
21) The technique used by groups to generate as many ideas as possible within a limited amount of time is called
A) asking questions.
B) mind-mapping.
C) cross-indexing.
D) personal inventory.
E) brainstorming.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
22) Which of the following is the least reliable identifier of an individual with leadership skills who is leading a
group?
A) the person at the center of the group’s attention
B) the person displaying behaviors which guides the group
C) the person who ensures that the group’s task is accomplished
D) the person with the appropriate title
E) the person to whom members address their messages
23) Defining, studying, and solving a problem are all behaviors related to
A) initiating needs.
B) task needs.
C) organization needs.
D) facilitation needs.
E) maintenance needs.
24) The type of leader who gives up control and gives total freedom to group members to make policies and
decisions is a(n) ________ leader.
A) maintenance
B) autocratic
C) laissez-faire
D) democratic
E) regulative
25) The type of leader who shares control and involves members in setting policy and making decisions is a(n)
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
________ leader.
A) maintenance
B) autocratic
C) laissez-faire
D) democratic
E) regulative
26) A list of all topics to be discussed during a group meeting is referred to as a(n)
A) agenda.
B) outline.
C) schedule.
D) itinerary.
E) group strategy.
27) Which of the following is NOT true of brainstorming via technology?
A) Groups can share new information via electronic brainstorming.
B) Groups can share new ideas to people outside the group via electronic brainstorming.
C) Brainstorming via technology adopts different principles than face-to–face brainstorming.
D) Group members can send their ideas simultaneously.
E) The group is able to work together even if its members are physically separated.
28) Which of the following is true of conflict and group communication?
A) Only face-to-face groups experience conflict.
B) Only online groups experience conflict.
C) Face-to-face interaction eliminates status disparities.
D) Face-to-face interactions increase individual participation.
E) Online interactions are more likely to display task conflict over procedures than face-to-face group
interactions.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
29)
According to Wilmot and Hocker’s perspective on conflict, communication behavior
A) is unrelated to conflict.
B) is the cause of all conflict.
C) can impact task-related conflict, but not maintenance-role conflict.
D) often creates or reflects conflict.
E) plays little role in defusing conflict.
30) A motivator who keeps the group moving toward its goal is known as a(n)
A) initiator.
B) evaluator/critic.
C) contributor.
D) energizer.
E) coordinator.
TRUE/FALSE
1) Research suggests that a democratic leadership style is ideal in all situations.
2) Identifying a leader strictly by his or her position or title within the group requires caution.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
3) Autocratic leaders generate more hostility among group members than democratic leaders.
4) Group building and maintenance roles help the group to accomplish its objective.
5) Groups using effective group discussion methods typically arrive at better-quality solutions than individuals
acting alone.
6) At times, small groups may encounter at least one member who is counterproductive. Some of the self–
centered behaviors exhibited by such members are aggressiveness, blocking, recognition-seeking, and
withdrawing.
7) According to functional theory, in successful groups participants should not waver from their decisions.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
8)
Groups, whether they are face-to–face or online, can experience conflict.
9) Identifying a purpose and planning an agenda should occur at the beginning of a meeting.
10) Democratic leaders get the most done in shorter amounts of time with the least amount of discussion.
SHORT ANSWER
1) Explain the differences between task-oriented (initiating structure) and relationship-oriented (consideration)
leaders.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
2) List, define, and provide an example of each of the three specific leadership styles discussed in the text.
3) List the assumptions functional theory makes.
4) What guidelines should you follow when phrasing discussion questions for a problem-solving group?
5) List and briefly explain philosopher John Dewey’s five steps for discussing problems in small groups.
6) Identify and describe at least three self-centered roles.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
7) Explain whether or not a small group should avoid conflict. Justify your answer.
8) If you were in charge of conducting a small group meeting, explain what you would do to prepare for that
meeting.
9) Imagine that you are going to conduct a meeting of a small group of your own choosing. Create an agenda
that you would use to conduct the meeting.
10) What are some things to avoid when you conduct a small group meeting?
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
11) Identify three suggestions for ethical behavior during conflict and provide an example for each.
12) Discuss how differences in interpersonal communication skills between men and women could result in
differences in leadership style.
13) Identify and describe at least three group task roles.
14) In what ways are conflict and communication related to each other?
15) Explain possible positive and negative outcomes of group conflict.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
16) Discuss situations where the autocratic leadership style would be appropriate. Provide one specific example to
illustrate your response.
17) Describe the advantaged of brainstorming via technology.
18) Research on the relationship between gender and leadership style suggests that gender differences could be
examined through two dimensions. Explain what those dimensions are and what the research findings are
surrounding these dimensions.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
19) Describe how online conflict is different from face-to-face conflict.
20) Identify at least five questions groups should ask when evaluating their performance.
ESSAY
1) Identify and explain the eight suggestions to aid individuals on how to behave ethically during group conflict.
2) What are the differing research conclusions regarding gender differences in leadership?
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
3) Discuss three recommendations for reaching consensus in groups. Provide an example to illustrate your
response.
4) Explain the differences between the three different types of leadership styles discussed in the textbook.
Which leadership style do you think you exhibit during group interactions? Explain your answer.
5) Identify the difference between a leader and the concept of leadership. Include an illustrative example in your
response.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition