Deck 11: Managing Conflict in the Small Group

Question 1

Both computer-mediated groups and face-to-face groups display similar amounts of substantive conflict according to recent studies.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

In what circumstances would it be ethical to take a distributive approach during a conflict with other members of a small group over ends or means? Unethical?

Answer 2

No Answer

Question 3

A neutral third party who listens to the goals, needs, evidence, and arguments of persons engaged in conflict, then decides on the resolution of the conflict, is called a(n) ______________.

Answer 3

arbitrator

Question 4

A group member believes that his workload is greater than that of other group members. He also resents the idea that at least two other individuals in the group do not seem to be contributing in an equitable fashion. This is an example of

A) conflict.
B) affective approaches.
C) inequity conflict.
D) deviance.
E) the distributive approach.

Question 5

Every conflict management style is appropriate and ethical in some circumstances.

Question 6

The type of conflict involves both task and relational dimensions of a group is called a(n)

A) relational.
B) extrinsic.
C) inequity.
D) process.
E) task.

Question 7

"Forcing" means that a conflict is resolved by having ______________ break the deadlock.

Question 8

Shannon is in a heated discussion group. She doesn't like the conflict and just wants to end the arguing. She remarks, "I'll go along with whatever the rest of you want, I just want to end the arguing." Shannon is displaying which conflict management tactic?

A) competition
B) appeasement
C) compromise
D) avoidance
E) accommodation

Question 9

Explain what "relationship conflict" is and the text says its origin is. Give at least one good example of an affective conflict you might see in a group.

Question 10

The conflict style characterized by a person's denial of the conflict is called

A) competition.
B) appeasement.
C) compromise.
D) avoidance.
E) accommodation.

Question 11

The same situation might be perceived as a conflict by one group member and as conflict-free by another.

Question 12

Principled negotiation requires a group to focus attention on

A) expressing their needs and searching for alternatives that meet those needs.
B) logic of the arguments presented.
C) positions taken by the competing parties.
D) the standards of critical thinking.
E) facts rather than the feelings of the members.

Question 13

What is (are) the negative effect(s) of conflict?

A) Conflict interferes with member motivation.
B) Conflict can split a group apart.
C) All of these answers are correct.
D) Conflict decreases the ability for groups to understand the issues.
E) None of these answers are correct.

Question 14

A recent study found that the more conflict members of work groups had experienced, the more negatively they viewed their group experience.

Question 15

Specific choices people make in particular situations as they manage conflict are referred to as

A) conflict styles.
B) conflict tactics.
C) conflict resolution.
D) conflict choices.
E) substantive conflict.

Question 16

A compromise is an integrative, collaborative, resolution to a conflict.

Question 17

The purpose of starting a task conflict is to

A) gain credibility in the group.
B) win an argument about the group goal or best solution.
C) to address disagreements over ideas, information, reasoning, or evidence.
D) establish norms for reaching consensus decisions.
E) get the group to use a better method of group decision making.

Question 18

An inequity conflict occurs when a member thinks that another (member or members) is (are) NOT ______________.

Question 19

Americans (from the United States) are strongly against conflict and work hard to avoid it.

Question 20

Avoiding expression of disagreement with another member can contribute to a poor decision.

Question 21

A basic approach toward conflict management that assumes that what one person gains is at another's expense is called the

A) compromise.
B) distributive approach.
C) integrative approach.
D) collective approach.
E) common group dialogue.

Question 22

Your _____________ lens contributes to how you value, approach, and manage conflict.

Question 23

Conflicts about values and goals are usually the easiest types to resolve with a consensus decision.

Question 24

A member who is perceived by the other members as substantially different from them in a belief related to the group's work is called a(n) ______________.

Question 25

"Collaboration" and "compromise" are synonyms for the same style of conflict management.

Question 26

What conflict style includes everyone giving something up?

A) Competition
B) Compromise
C) Accommodation
D) Avoidance
E) Collaboration

Question 27

Some computer programs for group decision making allow members to see all evaluative comments simultaneously.

Question 28

Researchers found that innovative deviance decreased the amount of critical thinking during group discussions.

Question 29

Sometimes called non confrontation, the ____________________ style is a passive approach in which a participant expends no energy discussing or exploring options.

Question 30

Is being rhetorically sensitive an ethical or unethical approach?

A) usually ethical
B) usually unethical

Question 31

Different types of conflict are often intermingled during decision-making discussions.

Question 32

An all-purpose, integrative strategy in a conflict situation that encourages all participants to collaborate by expressing their needs and searching for alternatives that meet those needs is

A) principled negotiation.
B) compromise.
C) ethical decision making.
D) mediation.
E) integration.

Question 33

What conflict style includes negotiating or problem solving?

A) Collaboration
B) Avoidance
C) Competition
D) Accommodation
E) Compromise

Question 34

Outline (list in order) the steps in the mediation procedure a leader (or other designated neutral person) can use when a group has deadlocked over a choice of solutions or policies.

Question 35

Is using emotional stories unrelated to the issue an ethical or unethical approach?

A) usually ethical
B) usually unethical

Question 36

When students discover that other group members have different positions on an issue, they tend to produce the best decisions.

Question 37

The procedure called "principled negotiation" requires all participants in a conflict to agree upon ______________ as a standard for choosing an option.

Question 38

Which of the following cultures are more prone to face saving strategies?

A) low context
B) individualistic
C) collectivist
D) all of these
E) none of these

Question 39

When some members stick to their initial positions, the quality of group decisions was reduced.

Question 40

Is changing the topic to a side issue an ethical or unethical approach?

A) usually unethical
B) usually ethical

Question 41

Chapter 11 is about only those conflicts which occur when members of a group are trying to define and achieve an interdependent goal.

Question 42

Members of your group disagree about whether they should make decisions by consensus or whether majority rule should be used. This is an example of

A) relationship conflict.
B) collaborative conflict.
C) process conflict.
D) internal conflict.
E) task conflict.

Question 43

"Appeasement" means that in order to prevent further conflict over an issue, is called ______________.

Question 44

A struggle for power and status in a small group would be classified as a(n) ______________ conflict.

A) task
B) inequity
C) extrinsic
D) intrinsic
E) process

Question 45

Groups were found to respond more favorable to male than to female members who deviate on an issue.

Question 46

Aramis thinks that Frida's idea is horrible. But, wanting to maintain peace, he keeps quiet and Frida's plan is adopted. Aramis has used what conflict style?

A) avoidance
B) appeasement
C) accommodation
D) competition
E) compromise

Question 47

Collaboration as a conflict management style that involves ______________. (another name for "collaborating")

Question 48

List and explain the potential benefits and harms of conflict during a group discussion about goals, criteria, and means.

Question 49

A passive approach when involved in a conflict is called a(n) ______________ style of conflict.

Question 50

Is taking a distributive approach to conflict an ethical or unethical approach?

A) usually ethical
B) usually unethical

Question 51

Is calling a person who disagrees with you "dishonest" an ethical or unethical approach?

A) usually unethical
B) usually ethical

Question 52

What conflict style includes disagreeing but saying nothing?

A) Avoidance
B) Competition
C) Collaboration
D) Accommodation
E) Compromise

Question 53

A group member who is viewed by the other members as substantially different in some important way from the others is a

A) collaborator.
B) leader.
C) competitor.
D) deviate.
E) trouble maker.

Question 54

Ellyn was outraged that her idea wasn't well received. She angrily told the group, "Maybe you don't understand the ramifications of this decision. If we don't do things my way, I'm quitting." Ellyn has resorted to which conflict style?

A) appeasement
B) compromise
C) competition
D) accommodation
E) avoidance

Question 55

This refers to the communication strategies people use for preserving their own or others' self-esteem.

A) openness
B) task
C) alluding
D) niceness
E) facework

Question 56

Unless members feel or perceive a difference of opinion to be a struggle or conflict, no conflict exists.

Question 57

Task-related conflicts, called substantive conflicts, are also known as ________ conflicts.

Question 58

The stress of the perception of inequity in groups can lead to the sub-groups of members, who have access to few resources, minimal power, or little bargaining leverage, to form within groups in an attempt to level the playing field. This is known as a

A) procedural conflict.
B) conflict solution.
C) deviant behavior.
D) coalition.
E) task grabbing.

Question 59

Ethical behaviors in conflict situations are those that

A) promote name calling.
B) express disagreement.
C) avoid conflict at all costs.
D) seek resolution that gives leader satisfaction.
E) promote the majority's interests.

Question 60

Effective Group Discussion says it is unethical not to express your disagreement with what another group member proposes during a discussion of ends or means.

Question 61

Conflict that occurs over interpersonal power clashes, likes and dislikes that are unrelated to the group's task is called ______________ conflict.

Question 62

Which is not a benefit of conflict?

A) Conflict can produce better understanding of both issues and people.
B) Conflict can interfere with member motivation.
C) Conflict can produce better decisions.
D) Conflict can produce greater cohesiveness among group members.
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 63

The uncooperative, aggressive conflict management style in which one person attempts to dominate or force the outcome to his or her advantage is called the ______________ style of conflict.

Question 64

Is using active listening an ethical or unethical approach?

A) usually ethical
B) usually unethical

Question 65

Brian and Cindy are part of a group that couldn't collaborate on a decision. They discovered that if each member of the group gave up something that they could all be relatively satisfied with the decision and, more importantly, they would accomplish their major objective. Their group utilized which conflict management style and tactic?

A) competition
B) compromise
C) appeasement
D) avoidance
E) accommodation

Question 66

Effective Group Discussion recommends that whenever possible you avoid conflicts during group discussions.

Question 67

Effective Group Discussion reports that communication scholars disagree about whether or not open conflicts can improve group decision making.

Question 68

Computer-mediated groups engaged in more inflammatory, profane, and negative interactions as compared to ____________ groups.

Question 69

What conflict style includes a highly cooperative but passive approach or "giving in"?

A) Avoidance
B) Compromise
C) Collaboration
D) Accommodation
E) Competition

Question 70

In which circumstance might a group-oriented member ethically take a competitive approach during a conflict with other group members?

A) when an important value or belief of the member is at stake
B) never
C) when the member finds it enjoyable to do so
D) when another member behaves competitively
E) when the member is trying to stimulate interest in the issue

Question 71

A lone deviate usually finds it difficult or impossible to shift group opinion to his or her position on an issue.