Page 199 - Essentials of Human Communication

178 Chapter 9 Small Group Communication

outsider) also will influence your level of apprehension. If you are apprehensive in group sit-
uations (the self-test included here will help you determine this), you may want to review the
suggestions for reducing your apprehension in public speaking; they are the same skills that
will help you reduce apprehension in groups and meetings (see pp. 209–210).

test Yourself

how apprehensive are You in Group Discussions?

This brief test is designed to measure your apprehension in small group communication situations. The ques-
tionnaire consists of six statements concerning your feelings about participating in group discussions.
Indicate the degree to which each statement applies to you by marking whether you 1 = strongly agree,
2 = agree, 3 = are undecided, 4 = disagree, or 5 = strongly disagree. (Each of these answers then becomes the
“score” for each item.) There are no right or wrong answers. Do not be concerned that some of the statements
are similar. Work quickly; just record your first impression.
_____ ➊ I dislike participating in group discussions.
_____ ➋ Generally, I am comfortable while participating in group discussions.
_____ ➌ I am tense and nervous while participating in group discussions.

_____ ➍ I like to get involved in group discussions.
_____ ➎ Engaging in a group discussion with new people makes me tense and nervous.
_____ ➏ I am calm and relaxed while participating in group discussions.

How DiD You Do? To obtain your score, use the following formula:
Start with 18; add the scores for items 2, 4, and 6; then subtract the scores for items 1, 3, and 5. A score of over
18 shows some degree of apprehension.
wHat will You Do? Think about the kinds of groups that generate the most anxiety for you. Can you iden-
tify the major characteristics of these high-apprehension groups? How do these differ from groups generating
little apprehension? What other factors might influence your small group apprehension? When you read sug-
gestions for reducing public speaking anxiety given in Chapter 10, consider how you might use them in the
various types of groups in which you participate.
Source: From James C. McCroskey, An Introduction to Rhetorical Communication, 9/e. Copyright © 2005 by Allyn & Bacon. Printed and electronically reproduced by
permission of Pearson Education, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Small Group Culture
Many groups—especially those of long standing—develop cultural norms and
Communication are greatly influenced by their own high-context or low-context orientation.
Choice point Each of these cultural dimensions influences the group, its members, and its
Group Norms communication.
The first 20 minutes of just
about every meeting at work invariably Group Norms Rules or standards, known as group norms, identify which behav-
revolves around personal talk. You really don’t iors are considered appropriate (such as being willing to take on added tasks or
enjoy this interaction; you want to participate directing conflict toward issues rather than toward people) and which are considered
in the work part of the meeting but not in inappropriate (such as arriving late or failing to contribute actively). These rules for
the interpersonal part. What are some of your appropriate behavior are sometimes explicitly stated in a company contract or policy:
options in this situation? Which option do you All members must attend department meetings. Sometimes they are unstated: Group
think will most likely advance your career?
members should be well groomed.