Group dynamics test 1 Flashcards
Define a group
Definition: Two or more individuals who are connected to one another by and within social relationships.
Definitions of groups vary, but they do have common characteristics.
What is a size of a typical group & who “discovered this”
2-7
Sociologist John James recorded the size of groups in Portland, Oregon (n = over 9000 from different settings – walking, shopping, playgrounds, etc.) and found that groups tend to gravitate to its smallest # = 2
who drew a distinction between primary groups & Secondary Groups?
define primary groups give an example
Cooley (1909)
Small, long-term groups characterized by face-to-face interaction & high levels of cohesiveness, solidarity, & member identification.
e.g: Families, close friends, tight-knit peer groups, gangs, elite military squads
Define a secondary group & give an example
A larger, less intimate, less commitment, more goal-focuses groups typical of more complex societies
e.g: Social groups such as congregations, workgroups, unions, professional associations
What is a planned group?
Deliberately formed by the members themselves or by an external authority, usually for some specific purpose or purposes
what is a concocted group? give an example
planned by individuals or authorities outside the group.
e.g?: production lines, military units, task forces, crews, professional sports teams
What is a founded group? - give an example
planned by individuals or authorities outside the group
e.g: study groups, small businesses, clubs, associations
Define Emergent groups
Groups that form spontaneously as individuals find themselves repeatedly interacting with the same subset of individuals over time and settings.
What is a circumstantial group? give an example
Emergent, unplanned groups arising when external, situational forces set the stage for people to join together, often only temporarily, in a unified group.
e.g.: waiting line, crowds, mobs, audiences, bystanders
what is a self-organizing group?
Emerge when interacting individuals gradually align their activities in a cooperative system of interdependence.
e.g: study groups, friendship cliques in a workplace, regular patrons at a bar.
Brian Lickel et al presented 40 scenarios - to determine what is least to most group like on a 1-9 likert scale(low entitativity -> high entitativity.
what were the types of groups he concluded?
- intimacy/ primary groups
- social / task groups
- weak associations/collectives
- categories
What are common characteristics?
- influence of size
- interaction: task and relation
interdependence: sequential, reciprocal, mutual
structure” roles, norms & relations
goals: generating, choosing, negotiating, executing
cohesion
What is the connection equation to determine the number of connections?
n(n-1)/2
N= Connections
e.g. a group of three would be: . 3(3-1)/2
What are the three types of goals
- process goals
- performance (task)
- intellectual (decision making)
What is McGarth’s circumplex model of group task?
2 dimensions & 4 quadrants
the dimensions:
1. conflict/ cooperation
2. conceptual / behaviour
4 Quadrants:
1. Generating - something that is created / produced
2. choosing - selecting (from alternatives
3. negotiation - group resolves conflict
4. Executing - requires action
Name some characteristics of groups - interdependence
Experiences (emotions, actions, communication, etc.) are determined by other members of the group and vice versa
e.g.: sports teams – experiences of one individual influences another, it could also be that that person who influences could influence back.
Define roles and norms
Roles – set of behaviours expected of people who occupy certain positions
Norms – a consensual standard that describes what behaviours should and should not be performed in a given context. Could be face to face, online groups, e.g. norm in a classroom = raising a hand. Norm @ tim’s – server asks “what could you like?”. Norms are powerful and create structures.
Who defined group cohesion as:
“a dynamic process that is reflected in the tendency of a group to stick together and remain united in the pursuit of its instrumental objectives and/or for the satisfaction of member needs. The bond that brings you together to achieve the goal.
Carron, Brawley & Widmeyer (1998)
What is Donald Campbell’s theory of entitativity (1958)?
Entitativity is perceived groupness rather than an aggregation of independent, unrelated individuals
Gestalt principles = groups are more than the some of its parts
• Common Fate – do individuals experience the same outcomes?
• Similarity – do individual perform similar behaviours or resemble one another
• Proximity – how close together are the individuals in the group. Creates more bonds.
When was the group dynamics field created?
• A formal field of student emerged in the late 1800s. started to emerge in the 1930’-50’s.
it was slow to emerge because it was too complex and there was a lack of agreement between theorists/researchers.
started to emerge around the industrial revolution, democracy & technology in the US.
Who was the first to formally study the impacts of groups on individual performance? and what did he study?
Norman Triplett (1898) – social facilitation – when the presence of someone else, influences their performance.
his experiment: cyclists who would go from point a-b timed it then compared it when they raced someone. Their performance improved (time increased).
• This help Triplett understand and understand a concept called social facilitation.
• Early research stated it always improves performance but newer studies show it can decrease performance.
define group fallacy & who is associated with it?
Floyd Allport,
oThe group fallacy – attributing qualities that only individuals possess to groups. – a group has a central nervous system.
oConcept of the G curve – in some cases group members do perform similarity.
Name Tuckmans theory of groups development
5 levels
Orientation (forming)
exchange of backgroup personal info, uncertainty, tentative communication
Conflict (storming)
dissatisfaction, disagreement, challenges to leader and procedures, cliques form
Structure (norming)
Cohesiveness, agreement on procedures, standards, and roles, improved communication
Performance (performing)
focus on the work of the group, task completion, decision making, cooperation
Dissolution (adjourning)
departures, withdrawl, decreased dependence, regret
What is the multilevel approach to studying groups?
- Micro level: focus on the individual (psychological)
- Meso (group) level: focus on the group and social context (sociological)
- Macro level: focus on organizational/ community level
- Multi-level: adopts multiple perspectives on groups
- In general you should adapt a multilevel study.