| SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION THEORY AND PRACTICE (AN ANTHOLOGY) Eighth Edition |
| Randy Hirokawa (Editor), University of Iowa
Robert Cathcart (Editor), Queens College at the City University of New York Larry Samovar (Editor), San Diego State University Linda Henman (Editor), Webster University |
| ISBN: 1-891487-50-7 |
| softbound, 304 pages, © 2003 |
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| PDF of Chapter 1
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| "The editors have done a good job
of updating the volume while at the same time retaining the best essays
from earlier editions. The Eighth Edition is a balanced and coherent set
of readings that will give students an excellent overall perspective on
group communication." -Dennis S. Gouran, Pennsylvania State
University
The long-awaited Eighth Edition of Hirokawa, Cathcart, Samovar, and Henman's Small Group Communication: Theory and Practice (An Anthology) presents a collection of readings on small group communication from the most well-known researchers and practitioners in the field. This comprehensive anthology spans a broad range of topics in communication theory, research, and practice. These include contemporary views of small groups, theories of group communication, group development and organization, group communication processes, group and team performance, group leadership, culture and diversity in groups, and methods for analyzing group communication. New to the Eighth Edition New lead coeditor, Randy Hirokawa (University of Iowa) brings a strong background in small group communication to the new edition, which features 14 new and three updated chapters. New topics include:
Importantly, each reading offers its own individual introduction--alerting readers to key points and integrating the selection into the larger themes of the section. These introductions serve as a "road map" as students travel through the ongoing intellectual developments, diverse views, and continuing debates that make the study of small group communication an exciting adventure. TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I: NATURE OF GROUPS Introduction * 1. Groups as Systems Linda D. Henman Henman identifies the fundamental characteristics of a small group as viewed from a systems perspective. * 2. Rethinking the Nature of Groups: A Bona Fide Group Perspective Linda L. Putnam Putnam discusses the characteristics of small groups when they are viewed as subsets of larger groups. * 3. Distinguishing Characteristics of Virtual Groups Robyn E. Parker Parker discusses the unique characteristics of "virtual" groups--collections of individuals who interact and function as a small group without being in the same place at the same time. PART II: THEORIES OF GROUP COMMUNICATION Introduction * 4. Effective Decision-making and Problem-solving in Groups: A Functional Perspective Dennis S. Gouran & Randy Y. Hirokawa Gouran and Hirokawa explain how group communication influences group decision-making and problem-solving performance. * 5. Symbolic Convergence Theory Ernest G. Bormann Bormann explains how and why group members come to share a common understanding for symbols and their accompanying meanings. 6. Group Communication and the Structuring Process Marshall Scott Poole Poole presents the major concepts and propositions of Structuration Theory and illustrates how they account for the emergence of structure in small groups. PART III: ORGANIZATION OF GROUPS Introduction * 7. Time and Transition in Work Teams: Toward a New Model of Group Development Connie J. G. Gersick Gersick discusses a model of group development that characterizes the group development process as periods of stable routines that are disrupted by transition periods where abrupt and often dramatic changes occur. * 8. Multiple Sequence Model of Group Development Marshall Scott Poole Poole explains why traditional unitary sequence models are inadequate for understanding group development, then proposes an alternative multiple sequence model that presents group development as a process consisting of continuously evolving tracks of group activities that intertwine over time. PART IV: GROUP PROCESSES Introduction 9. Spatial Relationships in Small Groups Judee K. Burgoon Burgoon explains how the spatial arrangement of group members influences comfort, status, leadership, interaction patterns, relational communication, and spatial deviancy in small groups. 10. Feedback Processes in Task Groups Beth Bonniwell Haslett & John R. Ogilvie Haslett and Ogilvie review what is known about the relationship between feedback and group performance, then examine some of the major factors that influence feedback in small groups. *11. Influencing Others in Group Interaction: Individual, Subgroup, Group, and Intergroup Processes Renee A. Meyers & Dale E. Brashers Meyers and Brashers provide an overview of prominent theories, models, and research studies concerning influence processes in small groups. PART V: GROUPS AND TEAMS Introduction 12. Communication and Group Decision-making Efficacy Randy Y. Hirokawa Hirokawa discusses the role that group communication plays in group decision-making effectiveness. *13. New Communication Technologies and Teams Craig Scott Scott summarizes research on team-based new communication technologies (NCTs) in three contexts: education, organizations, and research laboratories. *14. Characteristics of Effective Health Care Teams Randy Y. Hirokawa, Daniel DeGooyer, Jr., & Kathleen Valde Hirokawa, DeGooyer, and Valde discuss five factors that influence the performance of health care teams: external support, member attributes, relationships, organization, and process. *15. Teaming with Emotions: The Impact of Emotionality on Work-Team Collaboration Carolyn C. Clark & Richard W. Sline Clark and Sline report a study that examines the role of emotions in group and team performance. PART VI: LEADERSHIP IN GROUPS Introduction *16. Leadership as the Art of Counteractive Influence in Decision-making and Problem-solving Groups Dennis S. Gouran Gouran portrays group leadership as the art of getting a group back onto its "goal path" when the interaction of its members takes it astray of that path. 17. Leadership and Gender: Challenging Assumptions and Recognizing Resources Susan B. Shimanoff & Mercilee M. Jenkins Shimanoff and Jenkins present a comprehensive review of research devoted to differences and similarities of women and men in group leadership roles. 18. Leadership as Organizing J. Kevin Barge Barge examines the research on group leadership and argues that group leadership is best viewed as a form of organizing. PART VII: DIVERSITY IN GROUPS Introduction *19. Sex, Gender, and Communication in Small Groups Nina M. Reich & Julia T. Wood Reich and Wood examine the influence of biological sex and gender on patterns of communication in small groups. 20. Communication in the Multicultural Group Richard E. Porter & Larry A. Samovar Porter and Samovar discuss various dimensions of culture that condition how we send and receive messages in small groups. *21. Cross-Cultural and Intercultural Work Group Communication John G. Oetzel, Mary Meares, & Akiko Fukumoto Oetzel, Meares, and Fukumoto compare how Americans and Japanese communicate in task-oriented groups. PART VIII: ANALYZING GROUP COMMUNICATION Introduction *22. Observing Group Interaction Joann Keyton Keyton provides an overview of the observational method called interaction process analysis. *23. Narrative Analysis of Group Communication Randy Y. Hirokawa, Kathleen Clauson, & Juliann Dahlberg Hirokawa, Clauson, and Dahlberg discuss the utility of using narrative analysis to study small group communication. *24. Evaluating Group Discussion Steven A. Beebe & J. Kevin Barge Beebe and Barge describe the Competent Group Communication Evaluation Form--an assessment instrument used to help group members determine whether their group is communicating effectively. |