CHAP 2 - Studying Groups Flashcards
In an _________, researchers MANIPULATE VARIABLES to study cause-and-effect relationships.
experiment
A more advanced system that helps categorize behavior on multiple levels, providing deeper insights into group dynamics.
SYMLOG
(Systematic Multiple Level Observation of Groups)
5 Theoretical Perspectives in Group Dynamics Research
(1) Motivational and Emotional Theories
(2) Behavioral Theories
(3) Systems Theory
(4) Cognitive Theories
(5) Biological Theories
an observation where the group knows they are being observed.
Overt observation
it occurs when individuals change behavior because they know they are being observed.
Hawthorne Effect
Rooted in Skinner’s behaviorism, Thibaut and Kelley’s social exchange theory suggests that individuals seek to maximize rewards and minimize costs in group interactions.
Behavioral Theories
an observation where the group is unaware of the observation, reducing bias.
Covert observation
Strengths and Weaknesses of Case study
Strength: Offers in-depth knowledge of real-world, naturally occurring groups.
Weakness: Results can be subjective or influenced by researcher bias.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Experimental Study
Strength: Provides the most accurate assessment of cause and effect.
Weakness: Groups in artificial environments may behave differently than in real life.
It is a method that involves asking group members to describe their perceptions and experiences. One classic example is Moreno’s sociometry, where participants nominate their preferred group members, allowing researchers to map social relationships in the form of a sociogram.
Self-report measures/self-report methods
Focus on descriptive information about group dynamics.
Qualitative Studies
For any measurement to be meaningful, it must be ________ (producing consistent results) and _________ (actually measuring what it is supposed to measure).
reliable, valid
_____________ examine relationships between variables without manipulation.
Correlational studies
Involve counting and measuring behaviors.
Quantitative Studies
This approach views groups as systems where input-process-output (I-P-O)
models explain performance.
Systems Theory
A _________ is an in-depth analysis of one or more groups, providing detailed insights into group dynamics in real-world settings.
case study
These theories explain group behavior based on members’ needs, goals, and feelings. For example, members’ desire for self-esteem can influence how they react to group outcomes.
Motivational and Emotional Theories
Strengths and Weaknesses of Correlational Study
Strength: Accurately measures relationships between variables without ethical concerns.
Weakness: Cannot explain causality.
It suggests that some group behaviors, like leadership, may be tied to
biological factors.
Biological Theories
A structured observational tools that classify group behaviors into task or relationship interactions.
Bales’s Interaction Process Analysis (IPA)
Turner’s self-categorization theory (SCT) posits that group members’ need to categorize themselves and others influences behaviors.
Cognitive Theories
an observation where the researcher joins the group as a participant.
Participant observation
3 Observation methods
Overt
Covert
Participant
