Small Group Basics
What are the key components that define a small group?
A small group is defined by having three to nine individuals with a common goal or purpose who meet and communicate in a given medium for a period of time to achieve that goal.
Which type of group features close, personal, and enduring relationships?
Primary group
What additional criteria must a small group meet to be considered a team?
A team requires members to have complementary skills, be accountable for their actions, and to disband once they have achieved their specific goal.
A ____ is s set of interdependent parts or elements that form a whole and work together to achieve a goal. Fill in the blank.
system
Which perspective explains that, just like bees in a hive, humans are genetically programmed to join groups to cooperate, share resources, and enhance survival?
The Biological Theory
Which type of communication is a press conference?
Mass Communication
Which type of group is more impersonal, goal-oriented purposes, with temporary and instrumental relationships?
Secondary group
According to the Marshmallow Challenge, What is the iterative process?
The process of continuous testing (prototyping) and refinement based on feedback
What is input and give an example in the context of small group?
The materials, energy, ideas, people, or resources that are fed into a system to be processed.
According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, a student struggling with food insecurity is on which level of the hierarchy?
Physiological Needs
What distinguishes public communication from small group communication?
Public communication involves a single speaker addressing an audience with minimal interactive feedback, unlike small group communication which features dynamic, two-way interactions among all members.
What is the difference between a formal group from an informal group?
Formal groups operate under explicit, written rules and structured procedures (e.g., Robert’s Rules of Order), whereas informal groups are guided by unwritten, implicit norms that members understand intuitively.
Which groups of people were the most successful at the Marshmallow Challenge?
Kindergartners
List all of the Tuckman Stages of Group Development.
Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing
According to Goffman, what fundamental drive leads people to join groups?
The need to impress
In a small group discussion, when two members join forces to influence outcomes against a third member, what is this alliance commonly called?
Coalitions
In a primary group, what is exchanged between members? Give 2 examples.
Members exchange implicit items such as love, care, concern, and emotional support rather than tangible commodities like money.
One lesson of the Marshmallow Challenge is that specialized skills + _____ skills = success. What is the blank?
Facilitation skills
During a Zoom meeting for a group assignment, heated debates erupt over the best approach—accompanied by a flurry of memes and sarcastic comments in the group chat. What Tuckman stage of group development is this?
Storming
Imagine scrolling through your Instagram feed and rarely being tagged or mentioned in group chats, leaving you feeling invisible. Which of Schutz’s interpersonal needs is not being met?
Inclusion
In a group meeting, the members focus entirely on completing their agenda items. The group never hangs out or jokes around because they are all business. Later when conflict happens, the group doesn't have emotional bonds which then disrupts the group’s performance. Which small group paradox does this scenario illustrate?
Task-Social Paradox
Which type of group blends formal and informal elements by following established rules for specific tasks while relying on unwritten norms for everyday interactions?
Hybrid group
What does Tom Wujec mean when he states, "every project has a marshmallow"?
Every project has an end point that needs to be tested and refined before the deadline
In your Slack group, after a couple of projects, everyone just knows that messages tagged with a certain hashtag #bigbrainbrad signal a brainstorming session, and everyone automatically knows to share quick updates and tag others when they need help. What Tuckman stage is this?
Norming
n your Discord gaming community, you notice that your suggestions for team strategy are always ignored and decisions are made without your input. Which interpersonal need, according to Schutz, is going unmet?
The need for control