Group Dynamics Ch 2

Question 1

Paradigm

Answer 1

Scientists’ shared assumptions about the phenomena they study; also, a set of research procedures.

Question 2

Level of Analysis

Answer 2

The focus of study when examining a multilevel process or phenomenon, such as the individual-level or group-level of analysis.

Question 3

Group fallacy

Answer 3

Explaining social phenomena in terms of the group as a whole instead of basing the explanation on the individual-level processes within the group; ascribing psychological qualities, such as will, intentionality, and mind, to a group rather than to the individuals within the group.

Question 4

Group mind (or collective consciousness)

Answer 4

A hypothetical unifying mental force linking group members together; the fusion of individual consciousness or mind into a transcendent consciousness.

Question 5

B=f(P,E)

Answer 5

The law of interactionism that states each person’s behavioural, cognitive, and emotional reactions (“behaviour”), B, are the function of his or her personal qualities, P, the social environment, E, and the interaction of the personal qualities with factors present in the social environment. Proposed in Lewin, 1951.

Question 6

Multilevel perspective

Answer 6

The view that recognizes that a complete explanation of group processes and phenomena requires examining group behavior
from several different levels of analysis, including individual level (micro), group level (meso), and organizational
or societal level (macro).

Question 7

Observation

Answer 7

A measurement method that involves
watching and recording individual and group actions.

Question 8

Overt observation

Answer 8

Openly watching and recording
group behavior with no attempt to conceal one’s research purposes

Question 9

Covert observation

Answer 9

Watching and recording group
behavior without the participants’ knowledge.

Question 10

Participant observation

Answer 10

Watching and recording
group behavior while taking part in the social process.

Question 11

Online group (E-group)

Answer 11

Two or more people who interact with each other solely or primarily through computer-based information technologies (e.g., email, instant messaging, and social networking sites) rather than through face-to-face interactions.

Question 12

Hawthorne effect

Answer 12

A change in behavior that occurs when
individuals know they are being studied by researchers.

Question 13

Qualitative study

Answer 13

A research procedure used to collect
and analyze nonnumeric, unquantified types of data, such
as text, images, or objects.

Question 14

Structured observational methods

Answer 14

A research procedure that classifies (codes) group members’ actions into
defined categories. Research procedures that create systematic record of group interaction and activities by classifying (coding) each overt expression or action into a defined category.

Question 15

Quantitative study

Answer 15

A research procedure used to collect
and analyze data in a numeric form, such as frequencies,
proportions, or amounts

Question 16

Interaction Process Analysis (IPA)

Answer 16

A structured coding system developed by Robert F. Bales used to classify group
behavior into task-oriented and relationship-oriented
categories. It measures group activity by classifying each observed behaviour into one of 12 categories, such as “shows solidarity” or “asks for orientation”

Question 17

Systematic Multiple Level Observation of Groups (SYMLOG)

Answer 17

A theoretical and structured coding system
developed by Robert Bales which assumes that group
activities can be classified along three dimensions: dominance versus submissiveness, friendliness versus unfriendliness, and acceptance of versus opposition to authority. Relates to the behavioural orientation of the members.

Question 18

Reliability

Answer 18

The degree to which a measurement technique consistently yields the same conclusion at different
times. For measurement techniques with two or more
components, reliablility is also the degree to which these
various components all yield similar conclusions.

Question 19

Interrater reliability

Answer 19

The degree to which two or more raters agree.

Question 20

Validity

Answer 20

The degree to which a measurement method assesses what is it designed to measure.

Question 21

Self-report measures

Answer 21

An assessment method, such as a
questionnaire, test, or interview, that ask respondents to
describe their feelings, attitudes, or beliefs.

Question 22

Sociometry

Answer 22

A research technique developed by Jacob
Moreno that graphically and mathematically summarizes
patterns of intermember relations. Measures relationships amongst members of a group and summarizes them graphically.

Question 23

Sociogram

Answer 23

A graphic representation of the patterns of
intermember relations created through sociometry. In
most cases each member of the group is depicted by a
symbol, such as a lettered circle or square, and the types
of relations among members (e.g., communication links,
friendship pairings) are depicted with capped lines (lines from one member to another).

Question 24

Social network analysis (SNA)

Answer 24

A set of analysis procedures used to describe the structure through graphic
representations and through mathematical procedures
that quantify these structures. Using information about the relationships (ties, edges) linking members (nodes, vertexes), the method yields member-level indexes (e.g., centrality and betweenness), group-level indexes (density and cohesiveness), and a graphic representation of the unit.

Question 25

Case study

Answer 25

A research technique that involves examining, in as much detail as possible, the dynamics of a single
group or individual. It draws on multiple sources of information to do an in-depth examination.

Question 26

Groupthink

Answer 26

A strong concurrence-seeking tendency
that interferes with effective group decision making,
identified by Irving Janis. It is a set of negative group-level processes, including illusions of vulnerability, self-censorship, and pressures to conform, that occur when highly cohesive groups seek concurrence rather than objective analysis when making a decision.

Question 27

Bona fide groups

Answer 27

A naturally occurring group (particularly when compared to an ad hoc group created by a
researcher in a laboratory study), such as an audience,
board of directors, club, or team.

Question 28

Reference group

Answer 28

A group or collective that individuals
use as a standard or frame of reference when selecting
and appraising their abilities, attitudes, or beliefs; includes
groups that individuals identify with and admire and categories of noninteracting individuals.

Question 29

Correlation coefficient

Answer 29

A statistic that measures the
strength and direction of a relationship between two
variables. Often symbolized by r, correlations can range
from −1 to +1.

Question 30

Correlational study

Answer 30

A research design in which the investigator measures (but does not manipulate) at least two
variables and then uses statistical procedures to examine
the strength and direction of the relationship between
these variables.

Question 31

Experiment

Answer 31

A research design in which the investigator (1) manipulates at least one variable by randomly assigning participants to one or more different conditions, (2) measures at least one other variable, and (3) controls the influence of other variables on the outcome.

Question 32

Independent variable

Answer 32

Those aspects of the situation
manipulated by the researcher in an experimental study;
the causal variable in a cause–effect relationship. Something that changes in an experimental study whilst holding other variables constant and measuring the dependent variable.

Question 33

Dependent variable

Answer 33

The responses of the participant
measured by the researcher; the effect variable in a
cause–effect relationship.

Question 34

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Answer 34

A group, usually
located at a university or other research institution, that
is responsible for reviewing research procedures to make
certain that they are consistent with ethical guidelines for
protecting human participants.

Question 35

Motivation

Answer 35

Wants, needs, and other psychological processes that energize behavior and thereby determine its
form, intensity, and duration.

Question 36

Emotion

Answer 36

A subjective state of positive or negative affect
often accompanied by a degree of arousal or activation.

Question 37

Hierarchy of needs

Answer 37

An ordering of needs from the most basic and biologically necessary to the more social and psychological needs, such as aesthetic and actualization needs. (Abraham Maslow)

Question 38

Behaviourism

Answer 38

A theoretical explanation of the way organisms acquire new responses to environmental stimuli
through such conditioning processes as stimulus–response
associations and reinforcement. - Learning

Question 39

Social exchange theory

Answer 39

An economic model of interpersonal relationships which argues that individuals seek
out relationships that offer them many rewards while exacting few costs

Question 40

Systems theory

Answer 40

A general theoretical approach which
assumes that groups are systems—collections of individual
units that combine to form an integrated, complex
whole. Complex phenomena are the result of constant and dynamic adjustments that occur between and among the interdependent parts of the whole. Applied to groups, systems theory assumes that groups are open systems that maintain dynamic equilibrium amongst members through a complex series of interrelated adjustments and processes.

Question 41

Input-process-output (I-P-O) model

Answer 41

Any one of a
number of general conceptual analyses of groups that
assumes group processes mediate the relationship between individual, group, and situational input variables
and resulting group outcomes. Raw materials (inputs) are transformed by internal system processing to generate results (output).

Question 42

Cognitive process

Answer 42

Mental processes that acquire,
organize, and integrate information. Cognitive processes
include memory systems that store data and the psychological mechanisms that process this information

Question 43

Self-reference effect

Answer 43

The tendency for people to have better memories for actions and events that they are personally connected to in some way.

Question 44

group-reference effect

Answer 44

The tendency for group members to have better memories for actions and events that are related in some way to their group.