Communicating in groups : applications and skills

Communicating in Groups provides a contemporary look at group communication while retaining the foundational research and theory that has made the text so popular. Opening cases give an immediate context to each chapter’s main theme and key principles. Helpful tables and images, boxes showcasing ethical dilemmas, and “Apply Now” scenarios help students actively create their own understanding of key chapter ideas and concepts. Current issues related to media and technology complement the information. Along with the authors' conversational style, these features make the text accessible and relatable for students, who will come away with a practical understanding of small group communication and the positive impact they can make through effective communication choices with others. Title 2 Copyright 3 Dedication 4 About the Authors 5 Brief Contents 6 Contents 8 Features 14 Preface 17 Connect 21 PART ONE Introducing the Small Group 25 CHAPTER 1 Small Groups as the Heart of Society 26 Groups in Your Life 29 Groups as Problem Solvers 30 Participating in Groups 30 Groups versus Individuals as Problem Solvers 31 When a Group Is a Good Choice 32 When a Group Is Not a Good Choice 33 Groups, Small Groups, Teams, and Small Group Communication 35 Groups 35 Small Groups 36 Small Groups versus Teams 36 Small Group Communication 37 Groups and Technology 37 Classifying Groups by Their Major Purpose 39 Why People Join Groups 39 Primary or Secondary Groups 39 Types of Secondary Groups 40 Being an Ethical Group Member 44 The Participant-Observer Perspective 48 Notes 51 CHAPTER 2 Groups as Open Systems 54 What Is a Theory? 56 Overview of General Systems Theory 57 The Small Group as a System 58 Definition of a System 58 Concepts Vital to Understanding Systems 60 Characteristics of Systems 67 Notes 77 PART TWO Foundations of Small Group Communicating 79 CHAPTER 3 Communication Principles for Group Members 80 Communication: What’s That? 82 Communication Is Symbolic 82 Communication Is Personal 83 Communication Is a Transactional Process 83 Shared Meaning Is the Responsibility of All Members 85 Communication Involves Content and Relational Dimensions 86 Listening: Receiving, Interpreting, and Responding to Messages from Other Group Members 87 Listening Defined 87 Listening Preferences 88 Listening Actively 92 Communication Principles and Technology 95 How Groups Use Technology 95 Notes 99 CHAPTER 4 Using Verbal and Nonverbal Messages in a Group 100 Verbal Communication in Small Groups 102 Adjust to the Symbolic Nature of Language 103 Organize Remarks 105 Be Sensitive to the Feelings of Others 107 Following the Rules of the Group 108 Nonverbal Communication in Small Groups 109 Principles of Nonverbal Communication 110 Functions of Nonverbal Behaviors 111 Categories of Nonverbal Behaviors 113 Comparing Face-to-Face and Computer-Mediated Group Communication 119 Notes 122 PART THREE From Individuals to Group 125 CHAPTER 5 Becoming a Group 126 How Communication Structures the Small Group 128 Challenges in Group Development 129 A Group’s Major Functions 129 Social Tensions in Groups 130 Phases in Group Development 133 Group Socialization of Members 135 Stages of Group Socialization 137 Group Roles 140 Types of Roles 140 Role Functions in a Small Group 140 The Emergence of Roles in a Group 144 Rules and Norms 145 Development of Group Norms 146 Enforcement of Group Norms 148 Changing a Group Norm 150 Development of a Group’s Climate 151 Trust 152 Cohesiveness 154 Supportiveness 156 Ethical Behavior during Group Formation 157 Notes 161 CHAPTER 6 Diversity in the Small Group 164 What Is Diversity? 166 Diverse Member Characteristics 169 Diversity of Motives for Joining a Group 169 Diversity of Learning Styles 171 Diversity of Personality 173 Cognitive/Informational Diversity 178 Cultural Diversity 179 Dimensions of Culture 179 Racial and Ethnic Differences 185 Gender Differences 186 Generational Differences 191 Bridging Differences 197 Creating a Group Identity Through Fantasy 197 Principles for Bridging Differences 199 Notes 206 PART FOUR Improving Central Group Throughput Processes 211 CHAPTER 7 Creative and Critical Thinking in the Small Group 212 What Is Creative Thinking? 214 Enhancing Group Creativity 217 Brainstorming 218 Synectics 221 Appreciative Inquiry 223 What Makes Thinking “Critical”? 225 Enhancing Critical Thinking in a Group 227 Having the Right Attitude 227 Gathering Information 230 Evaluating Information 234 Checking for Errors in Reasoning 241 Avoiding Groupthink 245 Notes 253 CHAPTER 8 Group Problem-Solving Procedures 257 A Systematic Procedure as the Basis for Problem Solving 260 Capturing the Problem in Problem Solving 261 How Do We Know a Problem When We See One? 261 Area of Freedom 262 Characteristics of Problems 263 Getting the Discussion Question Right 266 Effective Problem Solving and Decision Making 269 The Procedural Model of Problem Solving (P-MOPS) 272 Applications of P-MOPS 290 Notes 295 CHAPTER 9 Managing Small Group Conflict Productively 299 What Is Conflict? 301 Myths about Conflict 301 Types of Conflict 304 Task Conflict 304 Relational Conflict 305 Process Conflict 306 Conflict Types and Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) 307 Managing Group Conflict 308 Conflict Management Styles 308 Expressing Disagreement Ethically 316 Maximizing Your Chances to Influence the Group 318 The Nominal Group Technique 319 Steps in Principled Negotiation 321 Notes 325 CHAPTER 10 Applying Leadership Principles 329 Leadership and Leaders 331 What Is Leadership? 331 Sources of Power and Influence 331 What Is a Leader? 334 Myths about Leadership 337 Figuring Out the Dynamics of Leadership 341 The Functional Concept of Group Leadership 341 The Contingency Concept of Group Leadership 342 The Distributed Concept of Group Leadership 344 What Good Leaders Do 345 Duties Group Members Expect Leaders to Do 347 Performing Administrative Duties 348 Leading Group Discussions 350 Developing the Group 357 Encouraging Distributed Leadership 359 Ethical Guidelines for Group Leaders 362 Notes 367 PART FIVE Small Group Public Presentations 371 CHAPTER 11 Planning, Organizing, and Presenting Small Group Oral Presentations 372 The Planning Stage 373 Your Audience 374 Your Occasion 375 Your Purpose 376 Your Subject or Topic 377 Member Strengths and Fears 377 Supplemental Logistics 378 Types of Group Oral Presentations 378 The Organizing Stage 383 Delegating Duties 383 Gathering Verbal and Visual Materials 383 Organizing Materials and the Presentation 387 The Presenting Stage 392 Checking Your Language 392 Practice Aloud 393 What Makes a Good Oral Presentation? 396 Notes 400 Online Appendix A: Techniques for Observing Problem-Solving Groups 402 Index 433 Communicating in Groups: Applications and Skills, 11e Part 1 Introducing the Small Group CHAPTER 1: Small Groups as the Heart of Society CHAPTER 2: Groups as Open Systems Part 2 Foundations of Small Group Communicating CHAPTER 3: Communication Principles for Group Members CHAPTER 4: Using Verbal and Nonverbal Messages in a Group Part 3 From Individuals to Group CHAPTER 5: Becoming a Group CHAPTER 6: Diversity in the Small Group Part 4 Improving Central Group Throughout Processes CHAPTER 7: Creative and Critical Thinking in the Small Group CHAPTER 8: Group Problem-Solving Procedures CHAPTER 9: Managing Small Group Conflict Productively CHAPTER 10: Applying Leadership Principles Part 5 (Connect Only) CHAPTER 11: Planning, Organizing, and Presenting Small Group Oral Presentations ONLINE APPENDIX: Techniques for Observing Problem-Solving Groups "As we prepare this revision, the world seems to be falling apart-mass shootings in Orlando and San Diego; a trucker mowing down families in Nice, France; an attempted military coup in Turkey (although news is still coming in about what happened there). We humans somehow need to push the reset button on how we interact with one another and how we work together. Some of these despicable actions are the work of lone, disaffected individuals, but it is also true that many disaffected individuals are encouraged by groups working to disrupt a way of life they dislike"-- Provided by publisher