Small Group Communication

Josh Emington

emington@msu.edu

Agenda

Roles Role Emergence Role Pressures Task Roles Building Roles Destructive Roles How to use this information

Roles

Informal Function

Focus

Formal Position (Title)

Emergence (Bormann 1990)

Data reveal a flow chart indicative of a stimulus-reponse model for role emergence and stability.

The development shown here comes from a long line of ‘learning’ studies in psychology.

Allow me walk you through the basic mechanisms for a deeper understanding.

Classical Conditioning (Pavlov)

Classical Conditioning

Skinner’s Box (Hardcore Operant Conditioning)

Testing with humans

Role Pressures

Role Conflict contradictory roles

Role Strain inadequacy

Intrarole conflict differing definitions

Interrole conflict incompatible roles

Informal Role Categories

TaskBuilding Self centered

(Benne & Sheats)

Task Roles

1. Initiator-contributor Creative

2. Information seeker Data hound

3. Information giver Researcher

4. Opinion seeker Representative

5. Opinion giver Suggestions

6. Elaborator-clarifier Translator

7. Coordinator Summary

8. Diagnostician Sherlock

9. Orienter-summarizer Task Master

10.Energizer Cheerleader

11.Procedural assistant Administrator

12.Secretary-recorder Scribe

13.Evaluator-critic Critic

Building Roles

1. Supporter-encourager

2. Harmonizer

3. Tension releaser

4. Compromiser

5. Gatekeeper

6. Feeling expresser

7. Standard setter

8. Follower

Self-Centered Roles

1. Blocker 2. Aggressor 3. Deserter

4. Dominator

5. Recognition seeker

6. Confessor

7. Playboy/playgirl-clown

8. Special-interest pleader

Extra Credit 2 pt

Email someone with whom you have worked in a small group setting outside of this class. As them to share feedback on your leadership abilities, conflict management strategies, and contributions to the group tasks. Let them know their response may be shared. Forward their message anonymously to j.emington@techsmith.com with the subject line EX1Feedback to earn the points.

Roll Examples

1

2

How do we use this?

Now that we can identify roles and understand their development we are in a position to cultivate productive distributions and diagnose role based problems in group members. We are also in a position to reward and punish certain role behavior socially to influence group development.

Discussion to follow on Google Hangout.

Thank You!

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