Group Dynamics Ch 2 Flashcards
Paradigm
Scientists’ shared assumptions about the phenomena they study; also, a set of research procedures.
Level of Analysis
The focus of study when examining a multilevel process or phenomenon, such as the individual-level or group-level of analysis.
Group fallacy
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.
Group mind (or collective consciousness)
A hypothetical unifying mental force linking group members together; the fusion of individual consciousness or mind into a transcendent consciousness.
B=f(P,E)
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.
Multilevel perspective
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).
Observation
A measurement method that involves
watching and recording individual and group actions.
Overt observation
Openly watching and recording
group behavior with no attempt to conceal one’s research purposes
Covert observation
Watching and recording group
behavior without the participants’ knowledge.
Participant observation
Watching and recording
group behavior while taking part in the social process.
Online group (E-group)
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.
Hawthorne effect
A change in behavior that occurs when
individuals know they are being studied by researchers.
Qualitative study
A research procedure used to collect
and analyze nonnumeric, unquantified types of data, such
as text, images, or objects.
Structured observational methods
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.
Quantitative study
A research procedure used to collect
and analyze data in a numeric form, such as frequencies,
proportions, or amounts
Interaction Process Analysis (IPA)
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”
Systematic Multiple Level Observation of Groups (SYMLOG)
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.
Reliability
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.
Interrater reliability
The degree to which two or more raters agree.
Validity
The degree to which a measurement method assesses what is it designed to measure.
Self-report measures
An assessment method, such as a
questionnaire, test, or interview, that ask respondents to
describe their feelings, attitudes, or beliefs.
Sociometry
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.
Sociogram
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).
Social network analysis (SNA)
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.
Case study
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.
Groupthink
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.
Bona fide groups
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.
Reference group
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.
Correlation coefficient
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.
Correlational study
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.
Experiment
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.
Independent variable
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.
Dependent variable
The responses of the participant
measured by the researcher; the effect variable in a
cause–effect relationship.
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
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.
Motivation
Wants, needs, and other psychological processes that energize behavior and thereby determine its
form, intensity, and duration.
Emotion
A subjective state of positive or negative affect
often accompanied by a degree of arousal or activation.
Hierarchy of needs
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)
Behaviourism
A theoretical explanation of the way organisms acquire new responses to environmental stimuli
through such conditioning processes as stimulus–response
associations and reinforcement. - Learning
Social exchange theory
An economic model of interpersonal relationships which argues that individuals seek
out relationships that offer them many rewards while exacting few costs
Systems theory
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.
Input-process-output (I-P-O) model
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).
Cognitive process
Mental processes that acquire,
organize, and integrate information. Cognitive processes
include memory systems that store data and the psychological mechanisms that process this information
Self-reference effect
The tendency for people to have better memories for actions and events that they are personally connected to in some way.
group-reference effect
The tendency for group members to have better memories for actions and events that are related in some way to their group.
