Group dynamics

Question 1

What are the two types of groups?

Answer 1

PRIMARY

SECONDARY

Question 2

What is a primary group?

Answer 2

a group formed spontaneously (informal structure and social process. Membership is natural or automatic. Freely chosen)

Question 3

What are some examples of a primary group?

Answer 3

family
religious group
hobby group

Question 4

What is a secondary group?

Answer 4

it is artificially made (formally established to achieve agreed-upon goals)

Question 5

What are some examples of a secondary group?

Answer 5

support group, work group, committee

Question 6

List some functions of groups in nursing.

Answer 6

Therapy
Support
Activity
Education

Question 7

What are the 5 phases of group development?

Answer 7

FORMING PHASE
STORMING PHASE
NORMING PHASE
PERFORMING PHASE
ADJOURNING PHASE

Question 8

What happens during the forming phase?

Answer 8

group just forms resulting in anxiety

members need acceptance

time and effort needed to develop trust

get to know and identify with each other

commitment, group contract

Question 9

What happens during storming phase?

Answer 9

transition phase when members feel comfortable

Leads to the development of norms and appointment of a leader

Question 10

What does a leader do?

Answer 10

models behaviour

focuses on positive

limits behavior

accepts differences

Question 11

What happens during the norming phase?

Answer 11

Feedback more spontaneous

group standards emerge

INDIVIDUAL GOALS BECOME ALIGNED WITH GROUP GOALS

members SHARE leadership

Question 12

What happens during the performing phase?

Answer 12

this is the PRODUCTIVE phase (most work happens here)

Increases cohesiveness
collective sharing of members
members experience affirmation

Question 13

What happens during the adjourning phase?

Answer 13

TERMINATION

encouragement of members to express feelings

Leaders seek feedback/evaluation of group

remind confidentiality

Question 14

What are the factors that may affect group effectiveness negatively?

Answer 14

Vague goals
Guarded communication
Power residing in the leader solely
Decision making without consultation
No tolerance for controversy
One sided focus on task or maintenance roles
Individual resources not used
Low morale

Question 15

What are the 6 task functions?

Answer 15

INITIATING: identifies tasks or goals; defines problem; suggests strategies

SEEKS INFORMATION (or opinion): requests facts from other members; asks for opinions; seeks suggestions/ideas

GIVES INFORMATION (or opinion): offers facts to other members; provides useful info for group

CLARIFIES/ELABORATES: interprets ideas or suggestions, paraphrases key ideas, defines terms, adds information

CONSENSUS TAKING: checks to see whether group has reached a conclusion; asks group to test a possible decision

Question 16

What are the 5 group maintenance tasks?

Answer 16

HARMONIZING: reconcile disagreements, reduces conflict, explore differences constructively

GATE KEEPING: keeps communication open, points out commonalities in remarks, suggests approaches for better sharing

ENCOURAGING: indicates acceptance of others. Friendly and responsive to other members

COMPROMISING: admits mistakes, offers concession, modifies position in interest of cohesion

STANDARD SETTING: calls for group to reassess or confirm implicit or explicit group norms when appropriate

Question 17

What is the purpose of maintenance tasks?

Answer 17

to help the group maintain harmonious working relationships

Question 18

What are task functions?

Answer 18

behaviours relevant to the attainment of group goals