Small Group Test 1

Which principle states that a system’s final state may be reached by multiple paths and from different initial states?

Which interpersonal needs are termed as survival needs according to Maslow’s theory?

________ highlights the importance of group “personality.”

Most corporate training departments cover certain principles to help their employees become better team members. What are they?

An individual is inclined towards social loafing more when he or she

Sound reasoning, critical thinking, prevention of errors, and the building of productive relationships among group members are the facets of which small group communication theory?

Which theory predicts that as long as rewards exceed costs, group membership will continue to be attractive?

The guidelines that help distinguish the generally accepted behaviors from the commonly prohibited ones in a small group are

If an individual is leaving a voicemail on a friend’s phone, through what kind of a message is that individual trying to communicate?

Researchers have identified that certain positions need to be filled in order for a small group to reach maximum satisfaction and productivity.
What are these positions called?

Shoshana, one group member, has been shying away from voicing her opinion, which is in direct opposition to Elena, the most dominant member of the group. Which behavior is Shoshana exhibiting that is not a hallmark of an effective group member?

A small group of previously unacquainted individuals interact among themselves. Their conversation generally revolves around the common or related content of the stories told by the group members. Furthermore, the story or “fantasy” of one group member leads to a multitude of stories with a common thread. Which theory explains this phenomenon?

Dawson Inc. is a small group of seven members who meet regularly to come up with new ways to improve their neighborhood security. During one such meeting, the group identified a new closed-circuit camera system which five of the members felt would be helpful in making the neighborhood safer. Two of the members did not agree but did not voice their disagreement and conformed to the majority. What lead them to this decision and why?

By imagining that a specific result tends to follow a specific kind of communication within a group, group members can modify their pattern of behavior to accomplish the most appropriate outcome.
Which function of theory is best explained in the scenario?

What kind of a group helps its members to tackle personal problems and manage their stress?

Despite better projections, Blandiose Corp’s revenues were steadily declining for the second quarter of the year. If the trend continued, the company and its shareholders could face a tough time at the end of the year. The senior management appointed a group of experienced consultants to analyze and fix the situation before it got out of hand. What kind of group are these consultants part of?

Wayne is an assertive individual at work. Even when he spends his weekends with his –friends from work, he continues to wield his dominance over the group. This is an example of which kind of behavior?

Which characteristic of an effective team member makes him or her respond when something needs to be done?

When his mother walked into the room, Jack was playing a game on his computer. She asked Jack what he would prefer to have for lunch, to which he gave a non-committal shrug and continued playing his game.
Which characteristic of face-to-face communication is best illustrated in this scenario?

What is the quantification of uncertainty and chaos in a system known as?

Forn Cars was in the process of deciding what hatchback model it planned to launch in the coming year. For this purpose, several car designers were asked to submit their designs and a group of top Forn managers selected the design which conformed to their needs the most. What kind of a group can this group of senior managers be classified as?

A group of five physicists meets one Sunday a month to discuss new innovations and discoveries in the world of physics. They consult experts of their respective field as well as various other sources, to collect relevant information. They also have connections with similar groups of physics-enthusiasts.
The variable that plays the principal role in the smooth running of the group is called

When Andrew saw his wife for the first time after returning from his tour in Afghanistan, he picked her up, hugged her, and said, “It’s so wonderful to see you!” In response, his wife beamed in delight, shed a tear of happiness, and hugged him back tightly.
In this scenario, which feature of face-to-face conversation was illustrated?

In preparation to discuss the new advertising firm they’re planning to start, Jerisha, Ainsley, and Zara individually write up notes, gather material, and prepare a small presentation for their meeting. When they get together to go through what they’ve collected and to talk about next steps, what will likely happen?

When technology simulates face-to-face communication, it breeds

If a group member is always critical of his fellow group members and creates a gloomy atmosphere in the group by constantly frowning, then which small group communication competency does this group member need to learn?

Certain people tend to work harder in the presence of others. What is this phenomenon called?

Melanie, a student, typically left college at 6:30 p.m. and it usually took her thirty minutes to reach home. When her class schedule was modified in the new term, she started leaving at 7:20 p.m. She noticed that when she left at 7:20, it took her only ten minutes to get home instead of the usual thirty minutes. She deduced that her journey used to take longer because the period between 6:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. was rush hour.
The process by which Melanie managed to gauge this phenomenon is called

City residents met up in the town hall to figure out how to deal with the local congressman who was getting more and more corrupt, which was costing the community dearly. During the course of discussion, somehow the residents went on to discuss the national healthcare policy and the corruption that it involved. Sonequa, who was also a part of that meeting, reminded everyone that they were there to discuss the congressman which was their focus. Which competency of small group communication did Sonequa display here?

A charity group, “Shelter for All” was formed by local residents to rebuild the homes of those who lost their homes to a hurricane the previous week. Several group members proposed different ways of going about rebuilding, each of which were considered and discussed at length by the entire group. Which small group competency were the group members displaying in this situation?

Greg, a socially awkward teenager, feels extremely uneasy in a group when someone starts crying. To compensate for it, he starts telling unrelated stories which often bore people and end up making him feel isolated. Greg’s behavioral pattern enhances exponentially by being in a group and he is able to understand his feelings better. What kind of a group is most suited for someone like Greg and why?

Brad, Johnson, Kyle, Curtis, and Frank get along really well with one another. Not only are they teammates who work effectively and efficiently at work, but they are best friends outside of work also. They go to basketball games together, invite each other over for barbeques on the weekends, and plan fishing trips together.
The small group communication variable that best illustrates the bonhomie that exists between the five friends is called

Wayne is a team leader and a workaholic. Because of this, he typically calls meetings for late in the afternoon when most of the team members are getting ready to leave for the day. During one such meeting, Bradley, one of his team members, pointed this out to Wayne. Wayne was very receptive to Bradley’s input and apologized to the team for his inconsiderate behavior. He also asked people to come forward if there were any other issues pertaining to his or the organization’s style of working. Which characteristic of an effective team member did Wayne display in this situation?

Different team members have designated roles but are proficient in the roles of their fellow teammates as well. When one team members is absent, a fellow teammate takes over his responsibility so that the team effectiveness is not hampered. This team member’s preparedness is an example of

A group of eight housewives meet together in their local park every evening. They take turns describing how their day progressed, while the others pay attention without cutting in on the speaker’s speech. After one member finishes narrating her experiences, the rest of the housewives communicate their opinions.
While communicating, what are the standards that this group of housewives follows?

What are the competencies that manage the group interactions and keep it focused on the task at hand?

____________ is the degree to which members share the same level of commitment to the group or team during the early stages of group formation.

A group tasked with cleaning the neighborhood agreed that the quickest and most efficient way of getting rid of the piles of garbage scattered across the neighborhood was to collect and burn them. At this time, Patrick, a member of the group, pointed out that it would not be an acceptable solution, as it would harm the environment even though it would clean the streets. Which competency of small group communication did Patrick display here?

What is the most fundamental difference between systems theory and all other general theories in small group communications?

What, according to systems theory, is a key similarity between a small group and an open system?

A main purpose of a ________ group is to allow humans to associate with other humans.

Over the past year, Rachel has been involved in a lot of relationships. Her ex-boyfriend said that the primary reason he left her was because she used to assess their relationship by quantifying the rewards and costs as well as profits and losses of every minute aspect.
Which theory best exemplifies Rachel’s behavior?

Of the general theories in small group communication, which one provides the broadest perspective?

Communication is essentially a human process of

If a team member is taking special care to explain all unfamiliar words and phrases so that everybody understands their meanings, then this individual is

Alex and Roy used to live in Manchester and were on excellent terms with each other. When Roy relocated to Glasgow, their interactions gradually decreased, until they stopped being friends altogether. Which property is this is an example of, as proposed by systems theory?

A group was divided in half and given the same task of creating airplanes using only paper. The first group was not offered any compensation while the second group was told that the person who created the most unusual paper airplane would be rewarded. Once the task was complete, the judges observed that there was uniformity in the manner in which the paper was used in the first group, whereas the use varied considerably among the members of the second group. Which condition was the reason behind first group’s results?

Which common theory in small group communication focuses on a person's active use of small group rules and resources?

Through which process can an individual influence others in a group?

Before commencing the flagship project for the company, Joanne suggested to her team that shared, clear, and specific aspirations play a crucial role in establishing effective teamwork.
Which component of small group communication was Joanne referring to?