Communicating in Groups: Applications and Skills

Katherine L. Adams is Professor of Speech Communication at California State University, Fresno, where she received a Meritorious Promise and Performance award in 1989. She has served as their Graduate Coordinator since 1989. She received her Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Utah under the direction of B. Aubrey Fisher. She has authored four instructors manuals in interpersonal and small group communication and most recently, this group communication book with Gloria Galanes. She has published articles in the areas of conversational analysis and interpersonal communication. Currently she is an associate editor for Communication Reports and The Western Journal of Communication. She participates, at all levels, in the Western States Communication Association and Speech Communication Association and teaches in the areas of interpersonal communication, communication theory, small group communication, and research methods. Gloria J. Galanes is Associate Professor of Communication and Mass Media at Southwest Missouri St. University and has received the Universitys Faculty Excellence in Teaching and the Outstanding Graduate Faculty Member awards.

Part One: Orientation to Small Group Systems1. Small Groups as the Heart of SocietyGroups in Your LifeGroups versus Individuals as Problem Solvers Groups, Small Groups, and Small Group CommunicationClassifying Groups by their Major PurposeBeing a Valuable Group MemberBeing and Ethical Group MemberThe Participant-Observer Perspective2. Groups as Structured Open SystemsOverview of General Systems TheoryThe Small Group as a SystemOrganizations as Systems of Groups

Part Two: Foundations of Small Group Communicating.3. Communication Principles for Group MembersCommunication: What’s That?Implications for Small Group CommunicationListening: Receiving, Interpreting, and Responding to Messages from Other Group Members4. Verbal and Nonverbal Message Use in Small Group CommunicationCreating Messages in a Small GroupHow Communication Structures the Small GroupUsing Language to Help the Group ProgressNonverbal Messages in Small Group CommunicationComputer-Mediated Communication and Group Messages

Part Three: Individuals to Group5. Becoming a GroupThe Life Cycle of a Group Phases and Social Tensions in the Development of a Group Group Socialization of Members Group Roles Rules and Norms Development of a Group’s Climate6. Working with Diversity in the Small GroupWhat is Diversity?Celebrating Diversity/Bridging Differences

Part Four: Understanding and Improving Group Throughput Processes7. Creative and Critical Thinking in the Small GroupWhat Is Creative Thinking?Enhancing Group CreativityWhat Makes Thinking “Critical”?Enhancing Critical Thinking in a Group8. Group Problem-Solving ProceduresA Systematic Procedure as the Basis for Problem SolvingWhat Is a Problem?Effective Problem Solving and Decision MakingThe Procedural Model of Problem Solving (P-MOPS)Applications of P-MOPS9. Managing Conflicts ProductivelyWhat is Conflict?Myths about ConflictManaging Conflict in the Group10. Applying Leadership PrinciplesLeadership and LeadersMyths about LeadershipCurrent Ideas about LeadershipWhat Good Leaders DoEncouraging Distributed LeadershipEthical Guidelines for Group Leaders

Part Five: Small Group Public Presentations11. Planning, Organizing, and Presenting Small Group Oral PresentationsThe Planning StageThe Organizing StageThe Presenting StageWhat Makes a Good Oral Presentation?Appendix: Techniques for Observing Problem-Solving GroupsReferencesBibliographyIndex