Question 1

When Stoner (1961)compared the average decision of a group's individual members against their group decision generated through group discussion,he found that

Accepted Answer

Stoner found that groups arrived at riskier decisions than individuals after group discussion.

Question 2

Bill is a subject in an experiment designed to imitate cheering at an athletic event and is asked to make as much noise as he can by cheering and clapping.Bill will probably make the LEAST noise if

Accepted Answer

The answer of Bill is a subject in an experiment...

Question 3

Maya has always preferred individual assignments to group projects because she finds that she can accomplish more when she works on her own.The process that would best explain why Maya accomplishes less when she works as part of a group is

Accepted Answer

Social loafing is the phenomenon where individuals tend to exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone. This could be why Maya accomplishes less when working as part of a group, as others in the group may have a tendency to rely on her to do the work, causing her to exert less effort overall. The bystander effect is not applicable in this situation as it pertains to situations where individuals are less likely to help in emergency situations when others are present. Social interference and social dissonance are not applicable either as they refer to other social phenomena that do not account for reduced productivity in group settings.

Question 4

Individuals' productivity typically ____ in larger groups,partly due to ____.

Accepted Answer

Social loafing is a phenomenon where individuals tend to put in less effort when working in a group compared to when working alone. This loss of coordination and reduced efficiency among group members results in a decline in productivity as group size increases. Therefore, option A is the best choice. Option B is incorrect because positive reinforcement for reduced productivity does not make sense. Option C is incorrect because the concern about being observed and evaluated by other group members may actually increase anxiety and decrease productivity. Option D is incorrect because commitment to the group's goals may not necessarily lead to an increase in productivity in larger groups.

Question 5

The NASA personnel who were in charge of the space shuttle launch had clear evidence that freezing temperatures could pose a problem for the shuttle,but they chose to ignore the evidence and proceeded with the launch anyway.The process that would BEST explain why the launch went ahead,even though there was evidence that indicated it should be delayed,is

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a process where a group of people prioritize the harmony of the group over making the best decision. In this case, the NASA personnel may have felt pressure to stick to the launch schedule and not appear incompetent in front of their colleagues, leading them to ignore evidence that the launch should be delayed.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT characteristic of groupthink?

Accepted Answer

Gathering all the relevant information before making a decision is not characteristic of groupthink. Groupthink involves a desire for group harmony and a quick consensus, which can lead to the suppression of dissenting viewpoints and information that contradicts the group's views. The group may also be inclined to view the world in terms of ingroups and outgroups.

Question 7

The decrease in individual effort exerted by group members when working together on a task is known as

Accepted Answer

Social loafing refers to the tendency for people to exert less effort when working together as a group compared to working alone. This can be due to a diffusion of responsibility, where individuals feel as though their individual effort has less impact in a group setting. Deindividuation refers to the loss of self-awareness and sense of individual identity that can occur in group settings, and can lead to behaviors that an individual might not engage in when alone. Group polarization refers to the tendency for a group to make more extreme decisions than the individual members would on their own, as group discussion tends to amplify existing opinions. Conformity refers to the tendency for individuals to alter their behavior or opinions to match those of the group.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a necessary component for describing or defining a group?

Accepted Answer

While cohesion is often a desirable feature of a group, it is not necessary for a group to be defined as such. A group can still exist even if its members are not particularly cohesive. However, the other three components (two or more individuals, interdependence, interaction) are generally considered essential to defining what constitutes a group.

Question 9

When group discussion strengthens a group's dominant point of view and produces a shift toward a more extreme decision in that direction,it is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Group polarization refers to the phenomenon where group discussion strengthens a group's dominant point of view and leads to a more extreme decision in that direction. It occurs as a result of social comparison and informational influence, where individuals become more confident and convinced in their opinions after sharing and hearing others' opinions. This can lead to a shift towards a more extreme decision, which can be problematic if the decision is not well-informed or balanced.

Question 10

When the jury entered the jury room most of the jurors thought that the defendant in the case was probably innocent,but some weren't certain.After discussing the case for four hours,all twelve jurors are now firmly convinced that the defendant did not commit the crime.The strengthening of the jurors' opinions following group discussion is consistent with which of the following processes?

Accepted Answer

The strengthening of the jurors' opinions following group discussion is consistent with group polarization, which refers to the tendency for group discussion to shift group members' opinions to become more extreme or polarized in the direction of their initial leanings. In this case, the majority of jurors initially leaned toward the defendant being innocent, and group discussion further strengthened this belief to the point where all jurors were firmly convinced of the defendant's innocence.

Question 11

When Jerry thought he was the only person who was assigned the job of contacting alumni for a 15-year reunion,he spent several hours on the phone each evening trying to reach members of his graduating class.When he learned that eight other people were also working on contacting the alumni,he spent only 30 minutes each night making phone calls.The process that would best explain the decrease in Jerry's effort when he learned that he was working as part of a larger group,is

Accepted Answer

The decrease in Jerry's effort when he learned that he was working as part of a larger group can be best explained by social loafing. This refers to the tendency of individuals to put in less effort when working as part of a group as compared to working alone. Jerry likely felt less responsible for contacting all the alumni when he learned that others were also working on the same task, leading to a decrease in his effort.

Question 12

Censoring dissent,pressuring to conform,omitting contradictory evidence,and polarizing ingroup and outgroup are basic features of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The basic features mentioned - censoring dissent, pressuring to conform, omitting contradictory evidence, and polarizing in-group and out-group - are all characteristics of groupthink, which occurs when a group makes faulty decisions because of group pressures, instead of critically evaluating all alternatives. Group polarization (B) involves the group moving towards a more extreme position on a particular issue, but does not necessarily involve the same pressure to conform or censorship of dissent. Social loafing (A) refers to individuals putting less effort into a task when working in a group, not necessarily related to censorship, pressure to conform, or polarization. Social diffusion (C) is the spread of ideas, attitudes, or behaviors through a group or society, not necessarily related to censorship, pressure to conform, or polarization.

Question 13

A shift toward more extreme decisions in a group as a function of discussion is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Group polarization refers to the tendency for group decisions to become more extreme than the initial inclinations of its members. This can occur as a result of the group discussion, where individuals may feel pressure to conform to the attitudes and beliefs of the group, leading to a more polarized decision. Biased decision making, the bystander effect, and diffusion of responsibility are related but different phenomena.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a factor that reduces social loafing?

Accepted Answer

A larger group size has been shown to increase social loafing, as individuals may feel less responsible for their contributions to the group effort. Cohesion, group norms that encourage productivity, and identifiable individual contributions have all been shown to reduce social loafing.

Question 15

The group polarization effect implies that

Accepted Answer

The group polarization effect suggests that after discussing a topic, a group is likely to move to a more extreme position in the direction they were already leaning. If the group initially favors caution, discussion tends to make their decision even more cautious.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT one of the primary features of a group?

Accepted Answer

While eligibility requirements may be present in some groups, it is not one of the primary features of a group. The other options listed (power structure, communication structure, and norms) are generally considered to be primary features of a group.

Question 17

Social loafing is more likely to occur if the

Accepted Answer

Social loafing occurs when individuals in a group feel that their individual efforts will not be recognized or evaluated. This feeling of diffused responsibility is more likely to occur when group members perceive that their individual contributions are not necessary or valuable to the achievement of the group's goals. Therefore, choice C is the best answer, as it best captures the conditions under which social loafing is most likely to occur. Choices A and B may also be true to some extent, although they are not as directly related to social loafing. Choice D is incorrect, as there is no clear evidence that group size alone is a determinant of social loafing.

Question 18

The effect that occurs when a group discussion strengthens a group's dominant point of view and produces a shift toward a more extreme decision is known as

Accepted Answer

Group polarization is the phenomenon where group members' initial attitudes are reinforced through group discussion, leading to a more extreme decision. This can happen because people want to fit in and feel like they belong with the group, causing them to conform to the dominant viewpoint.

Question 19

Diffusion of responsibility refers to the

Accepted Answer

Diffusion of responsibility refers to the tendency for individuals to believe that someone else will take responsibility in a crisis or emergency situation, leading them to feel less personally accountable and less likely to take action. This can lead to social loafing or a lack of helpful behavior in emergency situations.

Question 20

A group of six college students observe a fellow student stumble and fall down a flight of stairs.No one goes to check to see if the student needs help.Which of the following statements BEST illustrates diffusion of responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Diffusion of responsibility occurs when individuals do not take action because they believe that someone else will take responsibility or take action. In this scenario, none of the individuals went to check on the fallen student because they assumed someone else would do it. Therefore, the best choice that illustrates diffusion of responsibility is D, "I thought someone else would go help". Choices A, B, and C do not relate to diffusion of responsibility as they do not involve the belief that someone else will take responsibility or action.

Quiz 13: Social Behavior

When Stoner (1961) compared the average decision of a group's individual members against their group decision generated through group discussion,he found that