&>I. Basic Group Concepts
1. Introduction to Group Communication
Succeeding in Groups
Defining Group Communication
The Process of Group Communication
Types of Groups
Advantages and Disadvantages of Working in Groups
Balance: The Guiding Principle of Group Work
GroupWork: It Was the Best of Groups; It Was the Worst of Groups
GroupAssessment: Essential Group Elements
2. Group Development
The Life Cycle of Groups
Forming: Balancing Individual and Group Needs
Storming: Balancing Conflict and Cohesion
Norming: Balancing Conformity and Nonconformity
Performing: Balancing Task and Maintenance Dimensions
Adjourning: Balancing Engagement and Disengagement
Balancing Needs, Norms, and Roles
GroupWork: Classroom Norms
GroupAssessment: Group Attraction Survey
3. Group Member Diversity
Heterogeneous Groups
Personality Dimensions
Cultural Dimensions
Gender Dimensions
Generational Dimensions
Balanced Diversity
GroupWork: Personality Preferences
Group Assessment: Identifying Cultural Dialectics
II. Interaction Skills
4. Confidence in Groups
Group and Member Confidence
Communication Apprehension
Strategies for High Apprehensives
Strategies for Low Apprehensives
Assertiveness
Balancing Ability and Confidence
GroupWork: Sorting the Symptoms
Group Assessment: Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (PRCA-24)
5. Verbal and Nonverbal Communication in Groups
Two Essential Tools
Language and Meaning
Team Talk
Language Difficulties
Adapting to Language Differences
Improving Verbal Communication
The Importance of Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal Behavior
The Nonverbal Environment
Nonverbal Communication and Culture
Creating a Supportive Communication Climate
Balancing Language and Nonverbal Behavior
GroupWork: Context, Context, Context
Group Assessment: Auditing Team Talk
6. Listening in Groups
The Challenge of Listening in Groups
Types of Listening
Group Roles and Listening
Improving Listening
Listening to Differences
Taking Notes in Groups
Self-Listening in Groups
Balanced Listening
GroupWork: Practice Paraphrasing
GroupAssessment: Shafir's Self-Listening Test
7. Conflict and Cohesion in Groups
Conflict in Groups
Constructive and Destructive Conflict
Conflict Styles
Conflict Management Strategies
Group Cohesion
Adapting to Differences
Balancing Conflict and Cohesion
GroupWork: Win as Much as You Can
Assessment: Ross-DeWine Conflict Management Message Style Instrument
III. Achieving Group Goals
8. Group Leadership
What Is Leadership?
Leadership and Power
Becoming a Leader
Leadership Theories
The 4M Model of Leadership Effectiveness
Diversity and Leadership
Balanced Leadership
GroupWork: The Least-Preferred Coworker Scale
GroupAssessment: Are You Ready to Lead?
9. Structured and Creative Problem Solving in Groups
Group Decision Making
The Need for Procedures
Structured Problem Solving
Creative Problem Solving
Problem-Solving Realities
Balanced Problem Solving
GroupWork: Game Building
Group Assessment: Problem-Solving Competencies
10. Argumentation in Groups
Why Argue?
Argumentativeness
The Structure of an Argument
Presenting Your Arguments
Refuting Arguments
Adapting to Argumentative Styles
Balanced Argumentation
GroupWork: Got Water?
Assessment: Argumentativeness Scale
11. Goal Setting and Motivation in Groups
Goal Setting
Member Motivation
Group Motivation
Assessment and Feedback
Rewards and Punishment
Balancing Mission and Motivation
GroupWork: Your Guiding Motive
GroupAsssessment: Group Motivation Inventory
IV. Participation Tools
12. Planning and Conducting Meetings
Meetings, Meetings, Meetings
Planning the Meeting
Preparing the Agenda
The Chairperson's Responsibilities
Dealing with Difficulties
Adapting to Difficult People
Preparing the Minutes
Evaluating the Meeting
Balanced Meetings
GroupWork: Meet the People Problems
Group Assessment: Post-Meeting Reaction (PMR) Form
13. Making Presentations in Groups
Presentations in Groups
Presentation Guidelines
Group Presentations
Questions and Answers
Presentation Aids
Balanced Presentations
GroupWork: A Practice Presentation
Group Assessment: Presentation Rating Scale
14. Technology and Virtual Groups
Technology and Group Communication
Group Communication Media
Groupware
Collaborative Presentation Technology
Group Diversity and the Digital Divide
Balancing Technology in Groups
GroupWork: Computer and Teleconference Simulation
GroupAssessment: Virtual Meeting Evaluation
Online Chapters
A: Informed Groups
Becoming a Well-Informed Group
Note Your Sources
Sources of Information
Evaluating Information
Using Information Effectively
Balancing Information Quality and Quantity
GroupWork: Research Scavenger Hunt
GroupAssessment: Information Checklist
B: Parliamentary Procedure
The Rules of the Game
Parliamentary Procedure's Principles and Players
Basic Rules of Order
Informal Rules
Balanced Procedures
GroupWork: The Mascot Debate
GroupAssessment: Parliamentary Procedure Assessment Instrument