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chapter 11
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. A support group such as AA or a problem-solving group are both examples of primary small groups.
a. True
b. False
2. Your family is a type of secondary small group.
a. True
b. False
3. In which phase of group development do members resolve conflicts and begin to work together as a cohesive
team?
a. Performing
b. Storming
c. normingNorming
d. formingForming
4. A virtual group is one that
a. exists only for a short period of time.
b. relies on technology to communicate.
c. lacks a clear goal or purpose.
d. presents similar challenges as other types of groups.
5. In what phase of group development do members have different ideas on how to approach a task or who
should take on leadership roles?
a. Norming
b. Performing
c. Forming
d. Storming
6. A team of individuals working together to achieve a common goal and who communicate primarily through
technology is a
a. virtual small group.
b. primary group.
c. secondary group.
d. mediated small group.
7. Your textbook suggests all of the following strategies for reducing communication apprehension in groups
EXCEPT
a. focused practice.
b. chill out.
c. pose simple questions to clarify points.
d. prepare messages ahead of time.
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8. Garth wear his earbuds and listens to music on his phone while his group meets. He moves to the music and
sometimes even sings along. He does not participate in the group’s discussions, and several members have
complained to the group leader that his behavior is distracting. What group role is Garth fulfilling?
a. Argumentative role
b. Task role
c. Maintenance role
d. Egocentric role
9. In which type of egocentric role does a teammate rely on other members to do all the work?
a. Argumentative
b. Social loafing
c. Apprehensive
d. Storming
10. What is an advantage of using virtual groups?
a. Lack nonverbal communication
b. Physical distance of group members
c. Often less expensive
d. Hard to build cohesion
11. In which phase of group development do members assume appropriate roles and work productively?
a. Performing
b. Storming
c. Adjourning
d. Norming
12. A group is virtual if there is physical distance between its members and if they primarily rely on technology
to communicate.
a. True
b. False
13. The objective or purpose of a group is called (its)
a. interaction.
b. goal.
c. common identity.
d. interdependence.
14. Which is a characteristic of small groups?
a. Interdependent persons
b. Common identity
c. Common goal
d. All of the options are correct.
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15. In what type of group do you work with people to achieve specific goals or perform tasks?
a. Cohesive group
b. Virtual group
c. Primary group
d. Secondary group
16. In which of Tuckman’s group development stages might members compete for status and openly disagree?
a. Performing
b. Storming
c. Norming
d. Forming
17. A group member who communicates in a way that builds trust and appreciative interpersonal relationships
in a group fulfills a(n)
a. formal role.
b. task role.
c. maintenance role.
d. egocentric role.
18. When Maria works with her small group in her communication class, she asks questions to clarify what her
groupmates are saying and helps to synthesize their various thoughts and opinions. What role is Maria
fulfilling?
a. Maintenance role
b. Task role
c. Group role
d. Formal role
19. Which of the following situations best depicts small group communication as defined in your text?
a. people talking in an elevator
b. bystanders at an accident scene
c. congregation listening to a sermon
d. jury members deliberating a court case
20. While maintenance roles focus upon social interaction and relationships, task roles focus more on achieving
the group goal.
a. True
b. False
21. In which phase of group development do members complete their task?
a. Performing
b. Storming
c. Norming
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22. What type of roles are taken on by appointment or election?
a. Task roles
b. Maintenance roles
c. Egocentric roles
d. Formal roles
23. In which phase of group development do members disband?
a. Storming
b. Adjourning
c. Performing
d. Norming
24. During the storming phase of group development, conflict arises.
a. True
b. False
25. Members of virtual small groups
a. meet and communicate in real time.
b. meet in person at least once.
c. are separated by physical distance.
d. experience technology failures.
26. A local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous is an example of a
a. primary group.
b. secondary group.
c. virtual group.
d. cohesive group.
27. What is a disadvantage of using virtual groups?
a. Lack of nonverbal communication
b. Technology challenges
c. Hard to build cohesion
d. All of the options are correct.
28. On the last day of class, Sara’s chemistry study group meets at a coffeehouse to celebrate their final exam
being over. They are all a little sad that they will no longer see one another in their study sessions every week
because the study group has run its course. What stage of group development does this represent?
a. Performing
b. Storming
c. Adjourning
d. Norming
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29. Three or more interdependent persons who share a common identity and communicate to achieve a common
goal is a
a. primary small group.
b. small group.
c. secondary small group.
d. virtual small group.
30. Members who exchange information about a duty or goal important to your group are fulfilling
a. egocentric roles.
b. maintenance roles.
c. task roles.
d. formal roles.
31. When a team member’s communication disrupts a group’s efforts, that individual is fulfilling a(n)
a. egocentric role.
b. argumentative role.
c. communication apprehension
d. storming role.
32. What is likely to be true of group members who experience high communication apprehension as compared
to those with lower communication apprehension?
a. More likely to express their opinions
b. May appear as aloof, stiff, withdrawn
c. Demonstrate more confidence
d. Demonstrate small group competence
33. According to group development theory, every group naturally progresses through each of the five phases.
a. True
b. False
34. Being highly argumentative and being verbally aggressive are both considered to have a negative impact on
groups.
a. True
b. False
35. Groups usually proceed through five stages including storming, warming, conforming, performing, and
adjourning.
a. True
b. False
36. Task and maintenance roles are formal roles.
a. True
b. False
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37. When a group member exhibits unique behavioral patterns or communication that serves specific functions,
that member has assumed a
a. group role.
b. formal role.
c. task role.
d. maintenance role.
38. According to your text, all of these are challenges posed by virtual groups EXCEPT
a. physical distance.
b. save money and time.
c. hard to build cohesion.
d. varied ability to use communication technology.
39. The individuals who meet your basic life, psychological, and social needs are
a. primary groups.
b. secondary groups.
c. small groups.
d. virtual small groups.
40. A group whose members like each other and share a sense of camaraderie is
a. cohesive.
b. performing.
c. norming.
d. primary.
41. Verbal aggression is an example of communication competence because it is the tendency to attack issues
and positions, not people or their self-concepts.
a. True
b. False
42. In which of Tuckman’s group development stages are members socially cautious and overly polite?
a. Performing
b. Adjourning
c. Norming
d. Forming
43. A small group is two or more interdependent people who communicate to achieve a common goal.
a. True
b. False
44. In which phase of group development do members agree on how to achieve a goal and who will do what?
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a. Forming
b. Norming
c. Performing
d. Adjourning
45. Introverted individuals tend to fulfill maintenance roles in small groups.
a. True
b. False
46. Which is the correct order for Tuckman’s five group development stages?
a. Forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning
b. Forming, norming, performing, storming, adjourning
c. Norming, storming, performing, forming, adjourning
d. Norming, forming, storming, performing, adjourning
47. Specific patterns of behavior and communication that members develop from interacting over time are
called
a. performing.
b. group roles.
c. social loafing.
d. cohesiveness.
48. Steve knows his group members think he doesn’t care about them or the group, but he actually does. The
fact is, he feels intense anxiety about speaking up, even in a small group of classmates. What does this
illustrate?
a. Social loafing
b. Perception checking
c. Forming
d. Communication apprehension
49. Ezra isn’t afraid to point out when the group is spending too much time socializing. His fellow group
members depend on him to keep them on track so they finish what they need to accomplish on time. What role
is Ezra fulfilling?
a. Task role
b. Maintenance role
c. Egocentric role
d. Formal role
50. Expectations about behavior within a group are called
a. cohesiveness.
b. formal roles.
c. norms.
d. task roles.
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51. Social loafing is an example of a task role.
a. True
b. False
52. You joined a newly formed group responsible for developing a recycling program for your community. At
first, group members are somewhat reserved and uncomfortable working with strangers. Which of Tuckman’s
stages of group development is your group experiencing?
a. Forming
b. Norming
c. Storming
d. Adjourning
53. Taking a stance on controversial issues and refuting those who disagree with you is called
a. communication apprehension.
b. social loafing.
c. storming.
d. argumentativeness.
54. A group member who says, “Why don’t you just take care of this; I’m too busy and have better things to do
than work on this group project” is demonstrating
a. social loafing.
b. formal roles.
c. group roles.
d. task roles.
55. Selim always notices when members of his group are quiet and asks them what they think about the
discussion topic. He also detects when members are becoming restless and suggests a break. What group role is
Selim fulfilling?
a. Task role
b. Egocentric role
c. Formal role
d. Maintenance role
56. If Jonathan experiences anxiety when communicating with others to the point that he avoids
communication, he is experiencing high communication apprehension.
a. True
b. False
57. Highly argumentative individuals are not able to separate issues from people, and tend to be ineffective
group members.
a. True
b. False
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58. One effective strategy for minimizing the impact of egocentric roles is to enforce and abide by group norms.
a. True
b. False
59. In which phase of group development do group members come to know one another and the tasks?
a. Storming
b. Norming
c. Forming
d. Performing
60. One method of enhancing group cohesiveness is through self-disclosure.
a. True
b. False
61. Anticipated or real anxiety associated with communicating with others is
a. argumentativeness.
b. communication apprehension.
c. social loafing.
d. cohesiveness.
62. Your family and friends are examples of which a
a. primary group.
b. self-help group.
c. social group.
d. secondary group.
63. According to gender research, women and men communicate more similarly than stereotypes represent.
a. True
b. False
64. A handful of friends waiting for a yoga class to start is considered to be a group.
a. True
b. False
65. Identify three tools that can be used to facilitate virtual communication.
66. Identify two types of group roles.
67. What are three ways group members can establish positive norms?
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68. What is a group role? Identify and explain the three types of group roles.
69. Provide an example of a primary and secondary group.
70. What is communication apprehension?
71. Define argumentativeness.
72. Identify the two types of small groups.
73. Identify and explain two primary communication traits particularly relevant to small group communication.
74. Explain the difference between primary and secondary groups and provide an example of each.
75. What are three challenges of working in virtual groups?
76. What are two advantages of an argumentative group member?
77. What does it mean when a group member assumes an egocentric role and engages in social loafing?
78. Identify and explain the characteristics of groups.
79. What is a small group?
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Answer Key
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Name:
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