Page 405 - Effective group discussion theory and practice by Adams, Katherine H. Brilhart, John K. Galanes, Gloria J

388 Glossary

Rule: A statement prescribing how members of a small Social loafer: A person who makes a minimal contribu-
group may, should, or must behave, which may be tion to the group and assumes the other members will
stated formally in writing, or informally as in the case take up the slack.
of norms. Social presence: The extent to which participants perceive
that a communication medium is like face- to-face com-
S munication emotionally and socially.
Search engine: Software that lets you search the Internet Solution multiplicity: Extent to which there are many
using key words. different possible alternatives for solving a particular
Secondary group: A group whose major purpose is to problem.
complete a task, such as making a decision, solving a Solution question: A question directed to a group in which
problem, writing a report, or providing recommenda- the solution to a problem is suggested or implied.
tions to a parent organization. Status: The position of a member in the hierarchy of
Secondary tension: Tension and discomfort experienced power, influence, and prestige within a small group.
by group members that stem from task-related (i.e., Ascribed status: Status due to characteristics external
secondary) sources, including conflicts over values, to the group, such as wealth, level of education,
points of view, or alternative solutions.
position, physical attractiveness, and so forth;
Self- centered function: Action of a small group member, status given on the basis of a member’s input
motivated by personal needs, that serves the individual characteristics.
at the expense of the group. Earned status: Status earned by a member’s valued
Self- managed work group: A small group of peers who contributions to the group, such as working hard
determine within prescribed limits their own work for the group, providing needed expertise, being
schedules and procedures. especially communicatively competent, and so
Self- monitoring: The extent to which someone pays atten- forth; status that comes from performance during
tion to and controls his or her self- presentation in a group’s throughput processes.
social situations; high self- monitors are able to assess Structuration: The concept that a group creates and con-
how others perceive them and adapt their behavior to tinuously re- creates itself through members’ commu-
elicit a desired response. nicative behaviors; the group’s communication both
Sensing- Intuiting Dimension: The Myers- Briggs Type establishes and limits how the group develops.
®
Indicator dimension concerned with the type of infor- Styles approach: The leadership approach that studies the
mation individuals use; sensers prefer facts and figures interrelationship between leader style and member
whereas intuiters prefer to dream about possibilities. behaviors.
Sex: Biologically determined femaleness or maleness. Symbol: An arbitrary, human- created signal used to repre-
Single Question Format: A special procedure for structur- sent something with which it has no inherent relation-
ing problem- solving discussions that facilitates critical ship; all words are symbols.
thinking and systematic problem solving, but is more Symbolic convergence: The theory that humans create and
suitable for members low in preference for procedural share meaning through talk and storytelling, produc-
order than more highly structured linear procedures. ing an overlapping (convergence) of private symbolic
Small group: A group of at least three, but few enough worlds of individuals during interaction.
members for each to perceive all others as individuals, SYMLOG: System for the Multiple- Level Observation of
who meet face- to-face, share some identity or common Groups, both a theory about member characteristics
purpose, and share standards for governing their activ- and effects on group interaction, and a methodology
ities as members. that produces a three- dimensional “snapshot” of a
Small group discussion: A small group of people communi- group at a given point in time.
cating with each other to achieve some interdependent Symposium: One of three kinds of group public discus-
goal, such as increased understanding, coordination of sions in which participants deliver uninterrupted
activity, or solution to a shared problem. speeches on a selected topic.

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