Because many students will go on to take some
class in group communication, I wanted to
provide an overview of group communication that would provide a foundation
for future courses.
However, I also found it important to talk about interesting new research
like that being done
by Mara Adelman and Larry Frey in which they discuss cohesion and group
culture in an assisted
living facility for people living with AIDS. - Dr. Melissa Gibson, Author
Chapter 7: Living and Working in Small Groups
Chapter Outline
I. The Nature of Group
Work
Importance of Small-group
Communication
Groups are an unavoidable
part of human interaction.
According to Rothwell, small-group
communication has three characteristics:
-
Small size-from 3 to 30 people.
-
Common purpose.
-
Mutual influence of each member
on the others.
Types of Small Groups
1. Primary groups
are family or friends or colleagues of long standing.
2. Social groups are
friends on a temporary basis.
3. Learning groups
are people who gather to study some topic.
4. Work groups are
people who meet to accomplish a particular task.
II. Working in Groups
Five Advantages of Using Groups
-
Synergistic effect of
having more than one brain working on the problem.
-
Division of labor, with
different people doing specialized tasks.
-
Pooling knowledge and resources.
-
Boomerang effect, or the
power of interaction of group members.
-
Quality circle, which
increases commitment of group members.
Five Disadvantages of Using Groups
-
Time-consuming process.
-
Unequal participation
in discussions.
-
Complaints of unfair workload.
-
Rate busting, which sets
a low level of accomplishment to accommodate the least productive member.
-
Grouphate phenomenon,
meaning that some people dislike group work and will not participate.
III. Interacting in Groups:
Role-playing
A role is
a set of behaviors that a group member adopts in group interactions. Certain
types of roles are necessary, according to Benne and Sheats.
-
"It" roles help the group
define and achieve their goal: initiator, questioner, recorder, devil's
advocate.
-
"We" roles contribute
to members' emotional satisfaction: compromiser, encourager, harmonizer.
-
"I" roles detract from
achieving the goal: playboy, recognition seeker, domination
-
Roles are affecter by several
factors:
-
Personality of the member.
-
Nature of the group.
-
Needs of the group.
IV. Contemporary Applications
of Research
Group Culture and Cohesion
-
Group culture is the set
of values, beliefs, rituals, and stories shared by the group.
-
Cohesion is willingness
of the group to stay together. It is created by the group culture.
Groupthink
-
Groupthink is a desire
for cohesion that overlooks contradictory evidence and opinions.
-
Its negative effects can be overcome
by better communication among members.
V. Leadership in Groups
Leadership us defined
by Hackman and Johnson as "communication which modifies the attitudes and
behaviors of others in order to meet group goals and needs."
Approaches to Group Leadership
-
The trait approach assumes
that leaders have innate qualities different from those of group members.
-
The style approach attributes
successful leadership to a style such as laissez-faire, autocratic, or
democratic.
-
The situational approach
advocates adjusting style to the particular situation.
Becoming a group leader
According to Hackman
and Johnson, a successful group leader should do the following:
-
Participate early and often.
-
Focus on communication quality
as well as quantity.
-
Demonstrate competence.
Help build a team.
You can improve your small-group
skills in several ways.
-
Be open-minded.
-
Take notes.
-
Listen actively.
-
Do more than your fair share.
-
Don't blame others.
-
Don't criticize destructively.
-
Don't overlink groupthink tendencies.
-
Do use multiple channels of communication.
-
Do summarize the group's progress
frequently.
Activity
Helpful
Links!
"Effective
Group Communication" - This page goes
over verbal/nonverbal behavior for not only working in groups, but getting
to know your group members as well.
"Empathy"
- This site offers a moderated e-mail list for the study of interpersonal
and small group communication dynamics. It's main objective is to provide
support for those teaching in these and related communication areas through
listserves, instructional resources, and professional organizations!
At
Your Bookstore
McBride, N.F. (1997). How
to Have Great Small Group Meetings: Dozens of Ideas You Can Use Right Now.
Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress Pub- lishing Group. Neblett, P. (1996).
Circles of Sisterhood: A Book Discussion Group Guide for Women of Color.
New York: Writers & Readers Publishing. Slezak, E. (1995). The Book
Group Book: A Thoughtful Guide to Forming and Enjoying a Stimulating Book
Discussion Group. Chicago: Chicago Review Press.