Module 2 - Studying Group PDF

Module 2- Studying Group Site: New Era University Virtual Learning Environment Printed by: Ferlene C. Pangilinan Course: HSE313-18 / COG312-18 / SHN221-18 - Group Dynamics Date: Saturday, 21 September 2024, 12:22 PM Book: Module 2- Study...

Module 2- Studying Group Site: New Era University Virtual Learning Environment Printed by: Ferlene C. Pangilinan Course: HSE313-18 / COG312-18 / SHN221-18 - Group Dynamics Date: Saturday, 21 September 2024, 12:22 PM Book: Module 2- Studying Group https://college2425.neu.edu.ph/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=110333 9/21/24, 12 23 Page 1 of 15 :  Description Lesson 1: Measurement in Group Dynamics Science begin with measurement. Biologist ,made dozens of discoveries when they perfected the compound microscope, as did astronomers when they peered into the night sky with their telescope. Researches success in studying groups was also tied, in large part, to their progress in measuring group members interpersonal actions and psychological reactions. We trace the growth and impact of the two important measurement methods. Observing groups and questioning group members, that group dynamics a foothold in the scientiWc tradition. Observation- researcher who study groups often begins with observation. Observation is method that involves watching a recording individual and group actions. https://college2425.neu.edu.ph/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=110333 9/21/24, 12 23 Page 2 of 15 :  Table of contents 1. Introduction/Overview 2. Groups and its importance 3. What are group dynamics? 4. Characteristics of Groups 5. Model of Group Tasks 6. Interdependence 7. Understanding People 8. Theoretical Perspective in Group Dynamics 9. Behavioral Perspectives 10. Research Methods in Group Dynamics 11. Learning Outcomes 12. Learning Outcomes https://college2425.neu.edu.ph/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=110333 9/21/24, 12 23 Page 3 of 15 :  2. Groups and its importance Groups come in all shapes and size and their purpose. The tendency to join a group has a variety of reasons especially on the perspective of an individual. It is part of everyday routine as being part of the group https://college2425.neu.edu.ph/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=110333 9/21/24, 12 23 Page 5 of 15 :  3. What are group dynamics? group dynamics are the interpersonal processes that occur in and between groups overtime, including the following: Formative process, such as the need to belong to and a[liate groups, contextual factors that promote the formation of groups, and the development of group cohesions. InWuence processes, including aspects of group structure (norms, roles , relationships) conformity and dissent, social power, obedience to group authority and leadership. Performance process, such as group productivity, social motivation, working in teams and collaborative decision making. ConWict processes within groups, intragroup con_ict-and between groups-intergroup con_ict. Contextual process that are dependent the groups physical setting and speciWc purpose. https://college2425.neu.edu.ph/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=110333 9/21/24, 12 23 Page 6 of 15 :  4. Characteristics of Groups Composition: Who belongs to the Group? To understand a group , we must understand a group, we must know something about the group's composition, the qualities of individuals who are members of the group. The Adventure Expedition Team, for example, differed from the other team on Mt. Everest that year because each member of the group was a unique individuals with speciWc talents, weaknesses, attitudes, values and personality traits. Boundaries: Who does not belong? The relationship that link members to one another deWne who is in the group and who is not. A group is boundaried in psychological sense: those who are included in the group are recognized as member those who are not part of the group are excluded outsiders. Size: How large is the group? Jon Krakauer (1997) who chronicled the experiences of Adventure Expedition as it attempted its climb at Mt Everest, admitted that he was unsettled by the size of the group. A group size also determines how many social links, relationships, connections, edges are needed to join members to each other and to the group. Interaction: What do members do? Groups are the setting of an inWnite variety of interpersonal actions. If we are to watch a group for even a few minutes, we would see people doing all sorts of things, talking over issues, getting into arguments and making decisions. Sociologist Robert Freed Bales (1999) intrigued by the question, what do people do when they are in a groups. He recognized the diversity of group interaction, but eventually concluded that the countless actions he had observed tend to be of two type: those that focused on the task the group was dealing with and those that sustained, strength or weakened interpersonal relationships within the group. Task interaction includes all group behavior that is focused principally on the groups work, projects , plans and goals. Relationship interaction (socioemotional interaction) if group members falter and need support others will bouy them up with kind words, suggestions and other forms of help. Stereotype , a socially shared set of qualities, characteristics and behavioral expectations ascribe to a particular group or category of people. Composition, the individuals who constitute a group Social network, a set of interpersonally interconnected individuals or group. https://college2425.neu.edu.ph/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=110333 9/21/24, 12 23 Page 7 of 15 :  5. Model of Group Tasks McGrath's task circumplex model of group tasks. The theory identiWes eight basic activities undertaken by groups-planning, creating, solving problems, making decisions, forming judgements, resolving con_icts, competing and performing. Choosing, groups that make decisions about issues that have correct solutions (type 3 intellective tasks) or questions that can be answered in many ways (type 5 decisions making tasks ) Negotiating, groups that must resolve difference of opinion among members regarding their goals or decisions (type 5 cognitive con_ict tasks) or resolve competitive disputes among members (type 6 mixed-motive tasks) Executing, groups that do things, including taking part in competitions (type 7 contests/battles) or working together to create some product and carry out collective actions (type 8 performance /psychomotor tasks ) https://college2425.neu.edu.ph/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=110333 9/21/24, 12 23 Page 8 of 15 :  6. Interdependence Do members depend on each other? The business executive's success and salary are determined by how well her staff complete their work, if her staff fail, then she fails as well. In such situations, members are obligated or responsible to other group members, for they provide each other with support and assistance. Interdependence, mutual dependence, as when one's outcomes, actions, thoughts, feelings, and experiences are in_uenced, to some degree, by other people. Structure: How is the group organized? Group members are not connected to one another at random, but in organized and predictable patterns. Group structure- the complex of roles, norms and intermember relations that organizes the group. Roles specify the general behaviors expected of people who occupy different positions within the group. Group members actions and interactions are also shaped by the group norms that describe what behaviors should and should not be performed in a given context https://college2425.neu.edu.ph/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=110333 9/21/24, 12 23 Page 9 of 15 :  7. Understanding People Groups may be every where, doing just about everything, but they stand outside the limelight that shines on most people's explanation of what makes the world go around. People when they encounter a group, tend to see only individuals in these group and not the groups themselves they resist explanations that highlights group level in_uences. Theories about groups have also proven to be particularly resilient, scientiWcally speaking, when put to an empirical test. In the last 100 years, researchers have conducted more than 25,000 studies involving over 8millions participants. A review of this studies suggest that much can be learned by studying people's attitudes, cognitions, personalities and relationships but one are of study surpassed all others in terms of providing explanation for human social behavior. Understanding Social world. The study of groups and their dynamics is not only essential for understanding people, but also for understanding organizations, communities and society itself. groups are the interpersonal microstructures that link individuals to society. Fine (2012) writes the group, a level between self and society, should properly have a central place in sociological theorizing, it creates allegiance, members know each other, come to create a culture and shared history and can use the group as a basis of connections to the larger society. Application to Practical problems, anyone who wants to get something accomplished should probably understand group and their dynamics. Groups are now the makers,, the builders, and producers of nearly everything the world needs and consumes. The Value of Groups. Groups are often the arena for profound interpersonal con_icts that end in violence and aggression. Even though group members may cooperate with one another, they may also engage in competition as they strive to outdo one another. groups can and do result in challenges, hardships and even disaster for their members and for society. When we face uncertain situation, we join groups to gain reassurance information about our problems and security in companionship. Groups are the bedrock of human social existence and we must accept the charge of understanding them. https://college2425.neu.edu.ph/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=110333 9/21/24, 12 23 Page 10 of 15 :  8. Theoretical Perspective in Group Dynamics Motivational and Emotional Perspective. Motivation are psychological mechanisms that give purpose and direction to behavior. This inner mechanisms can be called many things- habits, beliefs, feelings, wants, instincts, compulsions, drives but not matter what their label, they prompt people to take action. Emotion often accompany these needs and desire, feelings of happiness, sadness, satisfaction and sorrow are just a few of the emotions that can in_uence how people act in the group situations. Motivational approaches offer insight into a wide range of group phenomena. Why, do people take more credit when their group is a successful one, but then downplay their connection to their group when it performs poorly. Most people however are motivated to maintain and enhance their self-esteem and so they tend to exaggerate the role they played in their group when things go well and avoid responsibility for group failure. Jennifer George's (1995) theory of group affective tone, takes a more emotion-focused approach to explaining group behavior. George posits that group, overtime, develop a tendency to display collective mood states. This general effective tine is not tied to any speciWc aspect of the group's activities or to any one individual, but rather pervades all the group's day to day activities. The group's mood maybe taken for granted that members do not realize its in_uence, but George believes that positive group affect will lead to increases in a number of pro group actions, including helping out other members. https://college2425.neu.edu.ph/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=110333 9/21/24, 12 23 Page 11 of 15 :  9. Behavioral Perspectives Skinner's behaviorism was based on two key assumptions. First Skinner's believed that psychological processes , such as motives and drives, may shape people's reaction in groups but he also believed that such psychological processes are too di[cult to index accurately. Measuring and analyzing how people actually behave in speciWc context rather than speculating about the psychological or interpersonal processes that they have investigated their actions. Second, believed that most behavior was consistent with the law of effect, that is behavior that are followed by positive consequences such as rewards will occur more frequently whereas behaviors that are followed by negative consequences will become rarer. John Thibut and Harold Kelly (1959) social exchange theory extended Skinner's behaviorism to groups. They agreed that individuals hedonistically strive to maximize their rewards and minimize their costs. However when individuals join groups, they forego exclusive control over their outcomes. System Theory Perspective. A system theory approach assumes groups are complex, adaptive, dynamic systems of interacting individuals. The members are the units of systems, who are coupled one to another by relationships. Just as systems can be deliberately designed to function in a particular way, groups are sometimes created for a purpose, with procedures and standard that are designed with overall goal of the system in mind. System theory provides a model for understanding a range of group level processes including group development, productivity and interpersonal con_ict. Input-process-output models of group productivity or I P O models are systems theories that emphasize inputs that feeds into the group setting, the processes that take place within the group as it works on the task, and the output generated by the system. Cognitive Perspectives, allow members to gather information, make sense of it, then act on the results of their mental appraisals. When people join a group for the Wrst time, they immediately begin to form an impression of the group. This perceptual worlds prompt them to search for information about the other group members, rapidly, identifying those who are outgoing, shy, and intelligent. John Turner's (1999) self categorization theory SCT offers a cognitive explanation for a range for group process including intergroup perception and stereotyping. This theory explains the cognitive mechanisms that work to align people's self conceptions of the groups to which they belong. Biological Perspectives, group members can solve complex problems, communicate with one another using spoken and written language, build and cooperate massive machines and plan their group's future. But group members are living creatures, whose responses are often shaped by biological, biochemical and genetic characteristics. Evolutionary psychology, is a biological approach to understanding behavior which assumes that recurring patterns of behavior in animals ultimately stem from evolutionary pressures that increase the likelihood of adaptive social actions and extinguish nonadaptive practices. https://college2425.neu.edu.ph/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=110333 9/21/24, 12 23 Page 12 of 15 :  10. Research Methods in Group Dynamics Researcher watch groups and ask group members questions can develop a detailed description of group, but they must go beyond description if they are to explain groups. Once researcher collected a data, they must use the information to test hypothesis about group phenomena. They use many techniques to check the adequacy of their suppositions about group. Most common approaches are: 1. case studies 2. experimental studies - manipulate one or more aspects of the group situation 3. correlational studies, naturally occurring relationships between various aspects of groups. Conducting a case study - one of the best ways to understand group in general is to understand one group in particular. This approach ahs a long and venerable tradition in all the sciences, with some of the greatest advances in thinking coming from the case study- an in depth examination of one or more groups. Researchers have conducted case studies of all sorts of groups, adolescents peer groups, crisis intervention teams in hospitals, families coping with alcoholic member. Advantages and disadvantages of case study. By focusing a limited number of cases, researchers often provide richly detailed qualitative description of naturally occurring group. Researcher who use case study method must bear in mind that the group studies maybe unique, and so its dynamics. The essential records and artifacts may be inaccurate or unavailable to the researcher. group think - a strong concurrence-seeking tendency that interferes with effective group decision making identiWed by Irving Janis case study - a research techniques that involve examining in as much detail as possible, the dynamics of a single group or individual https://college2425.neu.edu.ph/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=110333 9/21/24, 12 23 Page 13 of 15 :