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Chapter 5

Practice Test

Practice Test

This activity contains 13 questions.

	Our culture provides us with assumptions about the appropriate use of language    True  False

	The strength of diversity is in the creative solutions that can emerge from people having different perspectives engaging in problem solving together.    True  False

	. Equifinality means that in the end each group is unique and diversity really doesn't matter.    True  False

	Conflict management is easy if you understand the diverse cultural backgrounds of participants in the group process.    True  False

	Power is a shared responsibility that we each must participate in.    True  False

	What is diversity?   Diversity describes differences in perspective and thinking based on socialization experiences, assumptions, and values attributable to cultural, social, sexual, racial, ethnic, and economic class background differences. Diversity is a fact of life in the U.S. that has an increasingly negative effect on small group problem-solving processes, making them more difficult to engage in and less successful in outcome. Diversity explains why some people's ideas are better than other people's ways of thinking. Diversity means that because of our different backgrounds we do not share a common meaning and therefore can not adequately communicate or make effective decisions as a group.

	What are stereotypes?   Stereotypes are no longer problematic, and should not be considered once we understand diversity. Stereotypes can help us make immediate, potentially critical decisions, but can also produce unintended, damaging consequences for our judgments and decisions. Stereotypes are useful because they tell us a lot about the multi-dimensionality of a person's thoughts, abilities, and worldviews. Stereotypes help identify the key archetypal characteristics of people and so can help us to understand them

	Three important communication considerations for small groups with diverse members are:   to consider the communication context, assumptions about language use, and differences in nonverbal communication. to speak forthrightly, listen distractedly, and focus on the group's task rather than member's differences. to spend less time talking, and more time listening, thinking, and deciding who is right to talk slowly, loudly, clearly, and using only simple words, so as to be understood by everyone.

	Whose responsibility is it to use power in a group?   Power is a dangerous tool that must be handled by those with the knowledge and experience to use it. People in positions of power within a group, such as the leader, have the obligation to use it to accomplish the best outcome for the group. Power differences should be ignored, especially in more diverse groups. Power is a shared responsibility of all group members.

	Research has shown that incorporating diverse perspectives in decision making:   makes group work slower, more difficult, and less enjoyable. helps groups make better and more creative decisions most of the time. creates "politically correct" decisions that will be agreed upon, but may not be very practical. produces a stalemate within most groups so that issues must be decided by voting, with majority rule.

	What is the definition of diversity and how is it "a strength" for small decision-making groups?   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

	What are the positive and negative implications of the assumptions and stereotyping that participants bring to the small group communication context?   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

	What are the implications of diversity for conflict management and power in the small group communication context?   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

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