GDstudy#1- Fall 2007

updated versionS08

GUIDELINES ABOUT UPCOMING in-class TEST #1:
PAGE LAST UPDATED 2/29/08

--Date: Scheduled for Fri 3/7/08 sect AA

--Chapters/Areas: Although you are responsible for all of the material covered so far, my emphasis will be on the information in & related notes pertaining to:

Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6 ,& Systems theory [ also be familiar with key terms from Chapter 9 [ pp233-241 Engleberg (4e)(re: decision making) {[pp. 203-210] ] -3e]. Please note that you have already received preview information about one of the essay questions {butterflies & hurricanes} and there may be a question based on a 10/21/04 soundbite from Joe Torre, then manager of the NY Yankees baseball team, in which he was heard to say: "Obviously you don't make all the right decisions but you make all decisions hoping they're right." /OR/ on a 1/31/07 soundbite from David Kaczinski: "You hope you did the right thing for the right reason."

{NB: be sure to carefully review your notes on Needs Theories (including Maslow & Schutz) , Systems Theory (also see the online slide show) & the definition of Experiential Learning]. If you were able to print out the online quizzes, those would also be a good source of study material.

--Test Format: will be:

WILL BE BASED ON VIDEOTAPE OBSERVATION -- This means that, in addition to knowing specific terms and their definitions, you should also be aware of what that item "looks like" in action and in coordination with other dynamics of group communication.

in the classroom

consisting of a variety of question types: e.g. * definitions of terminology, * 1-2 sentence "Short" Answer-types, * brief essay.

Remember that you will be asked to APPLY the course's terms/concepts to the group you observe in the Videotaped discussion.

length of test will be approx 35 minutes + 10 minutes of videotape viewing

Also, be prepared to answer the questions IN YOUR OWN WORDS -- not by repeating/memorizing the text's words.

The more concrete & specific your answers, the better.

----- Some Sample Questions [from past tests]-----

Below are various samples of questions I have asked in the past. These may or may not pertain to your current textbook; I simply cut & pasted items from previous tests, but at least they will give you an idea of how complex my questions tend to be.

1. What are three of the INPUT variables (as in systems theory) that are influencing this
group's interaction?

2. Of the following terms: Bypassing, Task Roles, Maintenance Roles, Team Talk, Function Theory, Needs Theory, Feedback Loop, Interdependence, Multiple Paths-Multiple Causes. Throughput factors, Evaluator-Critic, Committee, Compliance Factor, Criteria, Consensus, Harmonizer, Self-Adjusting factor, Dewey's Reflective Thinking

which 5 are observable in this video group? Specifically cite the person's name & describe what they did that exemplifies the term.

3. Is the group in the videotape a PRIMARY or SECONDARY group? Why?

4. Name & describe one TASK function role that is being performed in this group discussion.

5. Name & describe one MAINTENANCE function role that is being performed in this group discussion.

6. Adrian ranks high on Schutz' s scale of INCLUSION. That might explain why he volunteered to be this the group's leader/moderator and that he currently belongs to 10 different Secondary Groups. How can Schutz's theory be used to help us understand Adrian's behavior?