Chapter 9: Small Group Communication

7 September 2022
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question
Which of the following statements about small groups is true? A) All groups have some type of organization among them. B) Not all groups have a common purpose shared by members. C) A small group consists of two or more people. D) Small group members do not necessarily see themselves as a group.
answer
A) All groups have some type of organization among them.
question
Which of the following is the best example of a small group? a) commuters waiting for a train at a train station b) people waiting for children to get off a school bus c) friends who run into each other at a bar d) a university committee charged with building community on campus
answer
d) a university committee charged with building community on campus
question
Which of the following statements concerning teams is true? a) Teams do not have specific purposes. b) Teams are constructed for a specific task. c) Teams are always larger than small groups. d) Team members have undefined roles.
answer
b) Teams are constructed for a specific task.
question
A virtual group is _________. a) formed to analyze a problem by presenting as many ideas as possible b) a small group whose members interact online c) assembled for an in-depth interview for the purposes of marketing research d) a small group whose members communicate via face-to-face meetings
answer
b) a small group whose members interact online
question
The stages of small group interaction are similar to the stages of _______________. A) relationship development. B) the perceptual process. C) the listening process. D) a conversation.
answer
D) a conversation.
question
The small group format in which the members are "experts," the discussion is informal, and the audience may freely interject comments or questions is called a ____________. a) roundtable b) panel c) symposium d) symposium-forum
answer
b) panel
question
The members of XYZ Corporation arrange themselves in a circular pattern, then share relevant information and attempt to solve a problem without any set pattern of who speaks when. These members are using the small group format known as the _______________. a) roundtable b) panel c) symposium d) symposium-forum
answer
a) roundtable
question
At a convention of the National Communication Association, one session consists of three speakers who each deliver a relatively prepared presentation, much like a public speech. After the speeches are presented, the audience asks questions of the speakers. This convention session most clearly follows the format known as the ________________. a) roundtable b) panel c) symposium d) symposium-forum
answer
d) symposium-forum
question
The forum part of a symposium-forum small group refers most clearly to the _____________. a) asking and answering of audience questions b) presentation of relatively prepared speeches c) use of experts as members of the group d) interaction of group members without any set pattern as to who speaks when
answer
a) asking and answering of audience questions
question
It did not take Matthew long to realize that everyone at his new company takes longer than the prescribed one hour for lunch. Now Matthew;s lunch is over an hour, like everyone else's. In this instance, "a longer lunch" is an example of a group ___________. a) norm b) goal c) rule d) ideal
answer
a) norm
question
Which of the following is true of brainstorming? a) It allows for the generation of a limited number of ideas. b) It calls for the evaluation of each idea as it is presented. c) It encourages creativity. d) It limits group participation.
answer
c) It encourages creativity.
question
The diversity committee at State U. is a long-standing committee with a stable membership. During the first meeting of the year, Sam, a relatively new member of the group, asks, "What are the plans for fall orientation?" Given that the group has a high-context culture, which of the following is the most likely response to Sam's question? a) "We will have a special meeting at the end of the month to brainstorm ideas. We will appoint a subcommittee to draw up a schedule and deadlines for tasks, and proceed from that schedule." b) "We will probably do the same thing we did last year." c) "We will need to consult with the students who will be involved to get their input before we proceed. Then we can work on making a schedule and setting deadlines." d) "That is the next thing on our agenda. Let's get busy deciding on a schedule, activities, and deadlines."
answer
b) "We will probably do the same thing we did last year."
question
To discover how a target audience might react to a new ad campaign marketing executives ____________. A) brainstorm among themselves. B) conduct focus groups. C) brainstorm with marketing executives from other firms. D) start the campaign and then poll people on its effectiveness.
answer
B) conduct focus groups.
question
In small group decision making, ___________ means reaching agreement. The agreement does not have to be unanimous; rather, it is something that the group members can live with. a) focus b) authority c) consensus d) majority rule
answer
c) consensus
question
When a group engages in a brainstorming session, members should _________________. a) be informed beforehand about the issue to be discussed b) limit ideas to no more than two per person c) criticize each idea as it is presented d) avoid combining ideas
answer
a) be informed beforehand about the issue to be discussed
question
Small groups and teams use a wide variety of channels. When interactions take place online, the groups are called ___________ groups. a) virtual b) nominal c) Delphi d) focus
answer
a) virtual
question
According to the text, the best way to define a problem is as a(n) ___________. a) open-ended question b) statement c) yes/no question d) compound statement
answer
a) open-ended question
question
Dewey's problem-solving process starts with which of the following steps? a) definition and analysis of the problem and generation of possible solutions b) definition of the problem and generation of possible solutions c) definition and analysis of the problem and establishment of criteria for evaluating solutions d) definition of the problem and identification and evaluation of possible solutions
answer
c) definition and analysis of the problem and establishment of criteria for evaluating solutions
question
In the ______________ decision-making method, group members voice their feelings and opinions, but the final decision is made by the boss or leader. a) authority b) consensus c) majority rule d) unanimous
answer
a) authority
question
The _______________ identifies six steps and owes its formulation to philosopher John Dewey's insights into how people think. a) brainstorming technique b) nominal group technique c) Delphi method d) problem-solving sequence
answer
d) problem-solving sequence
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A ___________ group is a small group that is assembled and subjected to a kind of in-depth interview, often for market research. a) gossip b) nominal c) brainstorming d) focus
answer
d) focus
question
In research of online messages, it was found that people were more likely to comment on a message when that message was ____________ than when it was _________. a) negative; positive b) positive; negative c) negative; neutral d) positive; neutral
answer
a) negative; positive
question
Rules or standards, known as ________, identify which behaviors are considered appropriate and which are inappropriate. a) goals b) ideals c) group norms d) laws
answer
c) group norms
question
In a _____________, each member delivers a prepared presentation much like a public speech. a) roundtable b) panel c) symposium d) brainstorming session
answer
c) symposium
question
At the ___________ stage of small group interaction, the group may reflect on what it has done and perhaps on what remains to be done. Some groups may even evaluate their performance at this stage. a) feedforward b) feedback c) business d) closing
answer
b) feedback
question
People riding in the same car of a commuter train constitute a small group.
answer
False
question
The establishment of formal rules is an essential aspect in the definition of a small group.
answer
False
question
In research of online messages, it was found that people were more likely to comment on a message when that message was positive than when it was negative.
answer
False
question
In the roundtable format, a series of prepared speeches are formally presented.
answer
False
question
Group norms are rules or standards identifying which behaviors are appropriate and inappropriate.
answer
True
question
Members of work groups in high-context cultures spend a lot of time getting to know one another before engaging in small group interaction.
answer
True
question
Evaluation of ideas during brainstorming period itself is encouraged.
answer
False
question
In decision making by consensus, group members voice their feelings and opinions, but the leader or boss makes the final decision.
answer
False
question
Although brainstorming also can be useful when you are trying to come up with ideas in a group, it is more typically conducted alone.
answer
False
question
The normal group technique is a method of problem solving that uses limited discussion and confidential voting to obtain a group decision.
answer
True