Question 1

Groups from monochromic cultures may opt for majority rule, minority rule, or authority rule because those methods use time efficiently, whereas groups from polychromic cultures may try achieving consensus if they believe that method will produce a better decision. This is because _______________ affects decision-making.

Accepted Answer

Time orientation affects decision-making by influencing how cultures perceive and manage time, which in turn affects their preferred methods for making decisions. Monochromic cultures value time efficiency and may choose decision-making methods that are quicker, while polychromic cultures see time as more flexible and may prefer consensus to ensure a thorough decision-making process.

Question 2

A _________ is a characteristic of a person that is relatively enduring and not easily changeable.

Accepted Answer

A trait is a characteristic of a person that is relatively enduring and not easily changeable, fitting the description given. Traits are often used in psychology to describe aspects of personality that are consistent across different situations and over time.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a physical trait that tends to influence 1) who is likely to become a leader and 2) how effective that leader is perceived to be?

Accepted Answer

Education is not a physical trait; it is an acquired attribute related to knowledge and skills. Traits like sex, height, and physical appearance are inherent physical characteristics that can influence perceptions of leadership.

Question 4

Twenty-nine of the 44 U.S. presidents have been taller than the average U.S. adult man, and since 1990, the taller candidate for president has won the popular vote 66 percent of the time. This could be related to our perception of which physical trait contributing toward a more effective leader?

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is height, as the information provided directly correlates the height of U.S. presidents and presidential candidates with their success, suggesting that taller individuals are often perceived as more effective leaders.

Question 5

Studies have shown that leaders with masculine-looking faces are judged as more competent than are leaders with feminine-looking faces because _____________ plays a role in people's perception of effective leadership.

Accepted Answer

Physical appearance, including facial features perceived as masculine, influences perceptions of competence and leadership effectiveness.

Question 6

Many effective leaders share particular ___________ traits, which are characteristics of their personality and ways of relating to others.

Accepted Answer

Effective leaders often share psychosocial traits, which pertain to the psychological development of the individual in the context of social interactions, influencing their personality and ways of relating to others.

Question 7

Some researchers have suggested that people who are high ___________ are able to perceive the needs of others in a group and adapt their own behavior to meet those needs, which can lead to leadership emergence.

Accepted Answer

High self-monitors are adept at adjusting their behavior to fit the social cues and needs of their surroundings, which can facilitate leadership emergence by demonstrating social sensitivity and adaptability.

Question 8

Although Anna is shy and reserved in her study groups, she applies to be a study group leader at her college student instruction center. She feels she would be very helpful to others in her major of mathematics, and could lead students to success in a challenging subject area. The other applicant for the job, Olena, is more assertive and outgoing. Although Olena is not as strong in math, she ends up getting the position. It is likely that Anna's ____________ made her appear to be a less effective leader to the student instruction center.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Although Anna is shy and reserved in...

Question 9

Leadership is inherently social, so ________ tend to excel at leadership because they are friendly, assertive, and outgoing with others.

Accepted Answer

Extroverts are generally more outgoing and assertive, traits that are often advantageous in leadership roles, as they involve interacting with and influencing others.

Question 10

Group leaders who enact a(n) ___________ leadership style reflect the principle that every citizen has the right to participate in decision-making.

Accepted Answer

Democratic leadership style is characterized by the principle of allowing every member of the group to participate in decision-making processes, reflecting the idea that every citizen has a right to have a say.

Question 11

Marcos is the chairperson of an executive board for a pharmaceutical company. The decisions his board makes have far-reaching consequences for how the company is run. Marcos thinks it is important that all members of his committee be given the chance to speak and that all ideas be considered equally, regardless of controversy. When it comes time to a vote, Marcos counts everyone's votes equally and he supports the will of the majority even if it doesn't reflect his own preferences. What style of leadership does Marcos have?

Accepted Answer

Marcos exhibits a democratic leadership style by valuing everyone's input equally, encouraging open discussion, and adhering to the majority's decision, even if it differs from his own.

Question 12

If a leader takes charge of a group and controls how each meeting progresses and how each decision is made, that leader is

Accepted Answer

This leadership style is described as autocratic, where the leader makes decisions unilaterally, controlling all aspects of the group's activities and decision-making processes without input from group members.

Question 13

A _____________ leader believes group members should work independently, with little direction or personal involvement from him or her.

Accepted Answer

A laissez-faire leader believes in giving group members freedom to work independently with minimal direction or interference, aligning with the definition provided.

Question 14

John runs the sociology department at a major university, and he has 14 faculty members teaching in his department. John believes each faculty member understands his or her function at the college, so he does not interfere with their day-to-day work. John feels the faculty members are professionals who understand how best to do their jobs. When a conflict arises with a student or other faculty member, John will sit in on a meeting only if specifically invited, and he rarely offers his opinion or tells the faculty how to resolve the issue. John exhibits a _______________ style of leadership.

Accepted Answer

John's approach of not interfering with the day-to-day work of his faculty, trusting them to know how to do their jobs, and only getting involved in conflicts when invited, is characteristic of a laissez-faire leadership style. This style emphasizes minimal direct supervision and allows employees to make their own decisions.

Question 15

If a group's priority is to accomplish its task quickly, which style of leadership would most likely be more effective?

Accepted Answer

Autocratic leadership is most effective for quick decision-making because it centralizes decision authority in the leader, reducing the time spent on discussions and disagreements that can occur in more democratic or consensus-based styles.

Question 16

Which leadership approach is likely to backfire when group members lack the skills or training to work autonomously?

Accepted Answer

Laissez-faire leadership, which involves minimal supervision and grants high levels of autonomy to group members, is likely to backfire when the members lack the necessary skills or training to work independently. This approach assumes that team members are capable of setting their own deadlines, solving problems, and making decisions without much guidance, which can lead to poor performance and disorganization if the team is not sufficiently skilled or trained.

Question 17

______________ gives one the ability to influence or control people or events.

Accepted Answer

Power is the ability to influence or control people or events.

Question 18

Alice teaches an interpersonal communication course. She finds that when she exercises ________ power by giving extra credit or bringing her class treats, her students are more motivated to participate in class.

Accepted Answer

Reward power is based on the ability to give something of value, such as extra credit or treats, as a means to influence others, which aligns with the scenario described.

Question 19

A judge has ____________ power because he or she can punish you with fines or imprisonment for not doing as he or she says.

Accepted Answer

Coercive power is the ability to control others through the fear of punishment or the prospect of negative consequences. In the context of a judge, coercive power is applicable because a judge can impose fines or imprisonment for non-compliance with their directives.

Question 20

Although she knows it is wrong, Sarah decides to copy her English term paper from an online source because she has heard from friends at her college that there isn't a strong policy against plagiarism. She knows that if she gets caught, the most that would happen is a warning not to do it again. Because the college lacks a policy that inflicts a sufficient punishment, Sarah is not concerned with its _____________ power.

Accepted Answer

Coercive power refers to the ability of a party to force another to act in an undesired way by using threats, punishment, or sanctions. Sarah's lack of concern stems from her belief that the college does not effectively use coercive power to deter plagiarism, as the most severe consequence she expects is a mere warning.

Quiz 10: Decision-Making and Leadership in Groups