SMALL GROUP EXAM I
(Cooperative)
Names: (Signatures of members)
I. Choose the correct answer or answers for each statement. There may be as many as 4
correct answers for each statement. Each question is worth 4 points.
A. When the action of one group member creates a ripple effect on the entire group,
this is an example of
1. polarization in groups
2. nonconformity
3. interconnectedness within a system
4. group synergy
B. When one group member says to another in a frustrated tone of voice, “Your
report must be on my desk tomorrow,” this illustrates
1. communication incompetence
2. relationship dimension of messages
3. a Me– not We–orientation
4. negative synergy
C. Which of the following are differences between small groups and large
organizations?
1. Greater formality in organizations
2. Greater chance of information distortion in organizations
3. Greater satisfaction generally in organizations
4. Greater flow of negative information to top of organizational hierarchy
D. A group
1. is composed of two or more individuals
2. is unlikely to be successful if members are primarily interested in their own
individual accomplishment within the group
3. has a common purpose
4. is very unlikely to be successful in a highly individualist culture
E. Groups typically outperform individuals
1. when the task requires a wide range and variety of information
2. when both the group and any individual are without expertise.
3. when both the group and the individual have expertise and the task is an
especially complex one
4. when quick action is warranted
F. Your group has a difficult group member. He complains repeatedly, bullies group
members into supporting his positions during discussions, and dominates the
discussion, often interrupting other members. Your group should address this
difficult individual by
1. letting the troublemaker have his way so these initial “victories” might incline
him to be less combative
2. trying to change the difficult member into a likeable person
3. allowing the troublemaker to voice complaints to the entire group whenever
disgruntled, hoping he will “run out of steam”
4. confronting the difficult member about his unacceptable behavior
G. We typically conform to group norms
1. to be liked by group members
2. to be perceived as performing correct behavior so we can avoid embarrassing
ourselves
3. to provide predictability so we can maintain order
4. because we live in an individualist culture
H. Group synergy occurs when
1. a majority of the group members outperforms the minority
2. the group as a whole outperforms the sum of expected individual
performances based on perceived skills and abilities of members
3. groups perform more poorly than individuals
4. groups and individuals perform equally well
I. Status and connection dimensions of conversations produce different
expectations and communication patterns, such as
1. status produces a desire for interdependence and intimacy
2. connection produces cooperation and consensus seeking
3. status produces empowerment
4. connection produces a competitive urge to control conversations
J. You have just joined a group. You can enhance your chances of gaining
acceptance from your new group members by
1. playing the “role” of newcomer
2. conducting a thorough reconnaissance of the group
3. encouraging compatible membership
4. establishing a group responsibility norm
K. You join a group and observe a pattern of behavior among group members that
discourages loud talking and laughter during discussions. This reveals
1. an explicit norm
2. primary tension
3. an implicit norm
4. a network
L. In past groups you have witnessed several instances of social loafing. To
diminish social loafing in your new group, you and other group members should
1. establish a group responsibility norm
2. identify individual tasks and evaluate each member’s contribution to the
accomplishment of the task
3. note the importance of each member’s effort to group success
4. talk to any loafer privately and ask why the lethargic attitude exists
M. The individualism-collectivism continuum is an important dimension for
comparing cultures. According to research, the following can be said regarding
this continuum:
1. Most people in the world live in individualist cultures
2. No culture is totally individualist or collectivist; all are some combination
3. Individualist cultures are superior to collectivist cultures
4. In most cultures, either individualism or collectivism tends to predominate
N. The Twenty Percent Rule refers to
1. the amount of time that group members, on average, should spend engaging
in casual conversation to reduce primary tension
2. the proper proportion of time that a group should spend socializing when
working on a task
1. the minimum standard for the proportion of minority and female group
members necessary to discourage discrimination
2. the maximum standard for the proportion of competitive opportunities in a
group compared to cooperative opportunities for groups to function
effectively
O. When groups become more risk-taking or cautious after discussion has occurred
than the initial preferences of group members, this is called
1. group synergy
2. group cohesiveness
3. group productivity
4. group polarization
P. The We-not-Me orientation of the communication competence model means that
1. your family rarely makes sacrifices for any individual family member
2. your individual goals should not be met within a group context
3. your independence is more important than the well-being of your relationship
with your group members
4. when your personal goal to spend time alone hiking in Death Valley clashes
with your family’s goal to spend time together at the beach tossing a Frisbee
and watching the family dog chase seagulls, the family goal will usually
receive priority.
Q. Hazing rituals demonstrate a
1. strong relationship between cohesiveness and conformity
2. strong relationship between conformity and group productivity
3. strong relationship between cohesiveness and informational power
4. strong relationship between cohesiveness and group task
II. Identify each statement as TRUE or FALSE. Each answer is worth 2 points.
A. Communication appropriateness is defined as how well the group progresses
toward the achievement of goals.
B. Your symposium group increases in size from 6 members to 11 members. Your
satisfaction working with your group will probably increase because you have far
more resources available.
C. Groups consistently take greater risks than do individuals.
A. Group development proceeds sequentially in step-by-step phases from forming to
storming then to norming and finally to performing.
B. Cliques have no positive effects on members; they just encourage blind
conformity.
C. Tannen’s different styles explanation for gender differences in communication
should replace the men-are-dominant explanation.
G. The main purpose of group norms is to achieve group goals.
H. One of your group members consistently “goofs off” during discussions. This is
negative synergy in action.
I. Social comparison theory explains why groups outperform individuals.
J. A single member of your group can be a source of your group’s norms even when
that individual leaves the group.
K. The stronger the cohesiveness in a group, the greater is the nonconformity to
group norms.
L. The best way to diminish primary tension in a group is to discuss serious topics
that will encourage lively debate on controversial issues.
M. Ethical standards for competent communication of honesty, respect, fairness,
choice, and responsibility should be applied absolutely, with no exceptions.
N. Grouphate is a problem in all groups.
O. A primary goal of small groups and teams should be to eliminate secondary
tension.
P. The United States is an individualist culture. As such, levels of conformity to
group norms are extremely low.
Q. Conformity to norms is a negative phenomenon in groups and should be strongly
discouraged.
R. When you assume that other group members have the same meaning for a word
as you do without checking to see if differences exist, this is called a mixed
message.
SMALL GROUP EXAM I
(Individual)
Name: ________________
I. Choose the correct answer or answers for each statement. There may be as many as 4
correct answers for each statement. Each question is worth 4 points.
A. Groups establish boundaries and thus regulate change by
1. speaking a group lingo or specialized language
2. making some members feel like outsiders and not real group members
3. establishing a group territory
4. creating membership requirements
B. The group polarization effect can be explained by
1. social comparison theory
2. persuasive argumentation
3. excessive cohesiveness effect
4. diffusion of responsibility hypothesis
C. As group size increases which of the following typically occurs?
1. Complexity increases
2. Factions develop
3. Efficiency of the group increases
4. The number of nonparticipating members decreases
D. In mixed-sex groups, the following patterns of communication usually occur:
1. Men talk more than women
2. Women interrupt more than men
3. Men tell more jokes than women
4. Women give greater weight to the connection dimension and men give
greater weight to the status dimension of conversations
E. Your group forms for the first time. To address primary tension that will typically
occur among group members at the initial meeting of the group, you should
1. avoid disagreement
2. engage in small talk with other group members
3. express positive attitudes
4. avoid superficial conversation on frivolous topics
F. Hindsight bias is
1. giving too much emphasis to information that is current and not enough
emphasis to information that is older.
2. letting past accomplishments overly influence present choices made in groups
3. allowing past events to dictate present decisions
4. the tendency to look back after the fact or when an outcome has been
revealed and say, “I knew that all along”
II. Identify each statement as TRUE or FALSE. Each question is worth 2 points.
A. Smaller groups inhibit overt disagreement and signs of dissatisfaction more than
larger groups.
B. Social loafing is more common in a collectivist culture such as Singapore than it
is in an individualist culture such as the U.S.
C. When members of your term group are enjoying each other’s company and
experiencing positive social relations, this is called conformity.
D. Group polarization is manifested when the points of view and opinions among a
group’s members become more divergent (differ from each other).
E. The best size for a decision-making group is the smallest size capable of
performing the task effectively.
F. No group, not even a cult, can become completely closed off to its outside
environment and survive.
ADDITIONAL TEST QUESTIONS: (Correct answers boldfaced)
Multiple Choice
A. Communication competence is
1. a matter of degree
B. Which of the following affects a group’s ability to adapt successfully to change?
4. Equifinality of change
C. Which of the following are essential values that should serve as ethical guides for our
communication in groups?
1. honesty
D. We join groups because of
1. interpersonal attraction
E. A competent communicator exhibits a sensitivity to the needs of the group during the
norming periodic phase of development by
1. adapting communication to the norms of the group
True/False
B. A reason why groups outperform individuals on most broad range tasks is because of
C. Conformity to group norms is less when individuals expect to be group members for
D. A group should tighten its boundaries when both the quantity and type of outside
E. We tend to overestimate our prior knowledge on a subject such as group
communication once we have been told the correct answers. This is called the
F. If groups are to succeed, individual goals and agendas should be of secondary, not
G. Communication competence in groups necessitates behavior that is both effective
H. Designating a group member a “competent communicator” is a judgment of that
individual’s inherent, natural, communication capabilities that the person is simply
I. Communication becomes inappropriate if it violates rules and expectations of the
group when such violations could have been avoided without sacrificing a goal by
K. When group members experience the normal jitters and feelings of unease when first