Communicating in Groups offers a concise, step-by-step introduction to the theory and practice of small group communication, and teaches students to develop and apply critical thinking in group problem solving. With the firm belief that group participation can be an uplifting and energizing experience, authors Kathy Adams and Gloria Galanes give students the tools they will need in order to achieve this outcome. Research and theory are presented with a focus on what is important to students--understanding their group experiences and making them effective communicators.
Table of contents:
Previous edition TOC
Part One: Orientation to Small Group Systems
1. Small Groups as the Heart of Society
Groups in Your Life
Groups versus Individuals as Problem Solvers
Groups, Small Groups, and Small Group Communication
Classifying Groups by their Major Purpose
Being a Valuable Group Member
Being and Ethical Group Member
The Participant-Observer Perspective
2. Groups as Structured Open Systems
Overview of General Systems Theory
The Small Group as a System
Organizations as Systems of Groups
Part Two: Foundations of Small Group Communicating.
3. Communication Principles for Group Members
Communication: What’s That?
Implications for Small Group Communication
Listening: Receiving, Interpreting, and Responding to Messages from Other Group Members
4. Verbal and Nonverbal Message Use in Small Group Communication
Creating Messages in a Small Group
How Communication Structures the Small Group
Using Language to Help the Group Progress
Nonverbal Messages in Small Group Communication
Computer-Mediated Communication and Group Messages
5. Creative and Critical Thinking in the Small Group
What Is Creative Thinking?
Enhancing Group Creativity
What Makes Thinking 'Critical'?
Enhancing Critical Thinking in a Group
6. Group Problem-Solving Procedures
A Systematic Procedure as the Basis for Problem Solving
What Is a Problem?
Effective Problem Solving and Decision Making
The Procedural Model of Problem Solving (P-MOPS)
Applications of P-MOPS
Part Three: Understanding and Improving Group Throughput Processes
7. Becoming a Group
The Life Cycle of a Group
Phases and Social Tensions in the Development of a Group
Group Socialization of Members
Group Roles
Rules and Norms
Development of a Group’s Climate
8. Celebrating Diversity in the Small Group
What is Diversity?
Celebrating Diversity/Bridging Differences
9. Managing Conflicts Productively
What is Conflict?
Myths about Conflict
Groupthink
Managing Conflict in the Group
10. Applying Leadership Principles
Leadership and Leaders
Myths about Leadership
Current Ideas about Leadership
What Good Leaders Do
Encouraging Distributed Leadership
Ethical Guidelines for Group Leaders
Part Four: Small Group Public Presentations
11. Planning, Organizing, and Presenting Small Group Oral Presentations
The Planning Stage
The Organizing Stage
The Presenting Stage
What Makes a Good Oral Presentation
Appendix: Techniques for Observing Problem-Solving Groups
References
Bibliography
Index
Table of contents:
Previous edition TOC
Part One: Orientation to Small Group Systems
1. Small Groups as the Heart of Society
Groups in Your Life
Groups versus Individuals as Problem Solvers
Groups, Small Groups, and Small Group Communication
Classifying Groups by their Major Purpose
Being a Valuable Group Member
Being and Ethical Group Member
The Participant-Observer Perspective
2. Groups as Structured Open Systems
Overview of General Systems Theory
The Small Group as a System
Organizations as Systems of Groups
Part Two: Foundations of Small Group Communicating.
3. Communication Principles for Group Members
Communication: What’s That?
Implications for Small Group Communication
Listening: Receiving, Interpreting, and Responding to Messages from Other Group Members
4. Verbal and Nonverbal Message Use in Small Group Communication
Creating Messages in a Small Group
How Communication Structures the Small Group
Using Language to Help the Group Progress
Nonverbal Messages in Small Group Communication
Computer-Mediated Communication and Group Messages
5. Creative and Critical Thinking in the Small Group
What Is Creative Thinking?
Enhancing Group Creativity
What Makes Thinking 'Critical'?
Enhancing Critical Thinking in a Group
6. Group Problem-Solving Procedures
A Systematic Procedure as the Basis for Problem Solving
What Is a Problem?
Effective Problem Solving and Decision Making
The Procedural Model of Problem Solving (P-MOPS)
Applications of P-MOPS
Part Three: Understanding and Improving Group Throughput Processes
7. Becoming a Group
The Life Cycle of a Group
Phases and Social Tensions in the Development of a Group
Group Socialization of Members
Group Roles
Rules and Norms
Development of a Group’s Climate
8. Celebrating Diversity in the Small Group
What is Diversity?
Celebrating Diversity/Bridging Differences
9. Managing Conflicts Productively
What is Conflict?
Myths about Conflict
Groupthink
Managing Conflict in the Group
10. Applying Leadership Principles
Leadership and Leaders
Myths about Leadership
Current Ideas about Leadership
What Good Leaders Do
Encouraging Distributed Leadership
Ethical Guidelines for Group Leaders
Part Four: Small Group Public Presentations
11. Planning, Organizing, and Presenting Small Group Oral Presentations
The Planning Stage
The Organizing Stage
The Presenting Stage
What Makes a Good Oral Presentation
Appendix: Techniques for Observing Problem-Solving Groups
References
Bibliography
Index