Chapter 7: Group Dynamics

Question 1

define group dynamics

Answer 1

the vitality and changing nature of groups, a feild of study that focuses on the behavious of groups

Question 2

sports teams provide an ideal setting for reasurch on group dynamics beacuse (4)

Answer 2

1. it’s natural (not in a lab)
2. can consist of many confounding variables (size, rules of conduct)
3. ideal for studying: cooperation, competion, conflict
4. statisitcs- many objects to measure group effectiveness (ie. batting average)

Question 3

define a team

Answer 3

• collection of two or more indivduals
• common identity
• common goals and objective
• structured patterns of interaction and models of communication
• common perceptions about group structure

Question 4

define a sports team

Answer 4

• are independant (personal or task)
• interpersonal attraction
• consider themselves a group

Question 5

how does a group become a team? (4 stages)

Answer 5

1. forming
2. storming
3. norming
4. performing

Question 6

aspects of forming (3)

Answer 6

1. belong to the team
2. develope interpersonal relationships
3. determine roles (formal and informal)

Question 7

storming (3)

Answer 7

1. resistance to control
2. rebel against the leader
3. stress and tension

Question 8

norming (4)

Answer 8

1. solidarity and cooperation
2. group cohesion (team unity)
3. combined effort toward a common task (win/ productivity)
4. includes behaviour, belief, performace

Question 9

performing (4)

Answer 9

1. well defined roles
2. stable relationships
3. importance of everyones contribution
4. primary goal is team success

Question 10

define team climate

Answer 10

how indivuals percieve their interrelationships

Question 11

social support

Answer 11

emotional, performace feedback, role claifaction, empathy, listen to others

Question 12

proximity

Answer 12

close to each other physically, where the group meets before practice, athlete dorms, locker room

Question 13

distinctiveness

Answer 13

own identity, uniforms, motos, banners, cheers

Question 14

fairness

Answer 14

equal treatment by coaches, compatibity

Question 15

simularity

Answer 15

commitment, attitudes, goals, expectation

Question 16

task independance

Answer 16

all grouyp memebers benifit (or suffer), team mates are responsible for each other

Question 17

factors of group climate (9)

Answer 17

1. social support
2. proximity
3. distinctiveness
4. fairness
5. compatibilty
6. help to improve ability
7. simularity
8. communication
9. task indepance

Question 18

group efffectiveness model

Answer 18

actual productivity = potential productivity - process losses

Question 19

group effectiveness conceptual framework (inputs)

Answer 19

1. member attributes

2. group enviroment

Question 20

group effectiveness conceptual framework (throughputs)

Answer 20

1. group structure
2. group cohesion
3. group process

Question 21

group effectiveness conceptual framework (outputs)

Answer 21

1. group products

2. individual products

Question 22

memeber attibutes

Answer 22

• physical
• psycological
• varibility
• comparibility

Question 23

group enviroment

Answer 23

• task

- size

Question 24

group size

Answer 24

• # on the team
• who dresses
• # in action
• # in social unit (manager, medical, alumini, parents)

Question 25

ideal size for optimal productivity, moral cohesion, satifaction or other outcomes

Answer 25

group processes- decrease linearly
potential productivity- increase exponentialy then platues
actual productity- parabola below the lines of potential productivty and group processses

Question 26

optimal group size?

Answer 26

the peak of actual productity, too many people and the potential platues
as size increases it becomes more difficult to interact, communicate and plan

Question 27

group structure (4)

Answer 27

1. postion
2. structure
3. roles
4. norms

Question 28

defince rolse

Answer 28

a set of behaviours that each indivual in the group is require to perform

Question 29

formal roles

Answer 29

determined by the nature and structure of the organization

Question 30

informal roles

Answer 30

evolve from interacting amoung group memebers

Question 31

group effectiveness can be improved by (2)

Answer 31

1. role clarity

2. role acceptance

Question 32

define norms

Answer 32

standard of belief about what is appropraite or inappropriate behaviour for group members
norms have a powerful effect on behaviour and it is therefore important for the leader (with input) to establish postive norms

Question 33

norms for productivity (3)

Answer 33

1. puntuality
2. attendance
3. preparedness

Question 34

group products

Answer 34

stability, performance

Question 35

indvidual products

Answer 35

adhereance, satisfaction

Question 36

decline in indiviual productivity

Answer 36

-lack of coordination and loss of motivation (social loafing)

Question 37

define social loafing

Answer 37

a reduction in indivual effort (motivation) when people work collectively vs. alone

Question 38

when social loafing is the greatest (8)

Answer 38

1. individuals cannot be evaluated
2. task is low on meaningfulness
3. individual involvment on the task is low
4. no comparison against group standard
5. others in the group are expected to perform well
6. indiviual contibuting the group is a stanger
7. personal contribution is considered redundant
8. competion against percieved weaker apponent

Question 39

why social loafing occurs (4)

Answer 39

1. allocation stratrgy- save the best for solidarity work
2. minimizing strategy- little effort as possible (little personal accountibilty)
3. free rider effect- reduce effort “free-rider” is not essential to outcome
4. slacker effect- reduce effort, dont want to give a “free ride” to a less productive memeber