Table of Contents

PART I THE FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNICATING IN GROUPS 1

1 The Small Groups in Everyone’s Life 3

2 Human Communication Processes in the Small Group Context 21

3 The Small Group as a System 55

PART II DEVELOPING THE GROUP 79

4 Diversity and the Effects of Culture 81

5 The Members and Their Roles 115

PART III SMALL GROUP THROUGHPUT PROCESSES 143

6 Communication and Group Culture: Tensions, Fantasy, Socialization, Norms, and Climate 145

7 Leading Small Groups: Theoretical Perspectives 179

8 Leading Small Groups: Practical Tips 209

PART IV IMPROVING GROUP OUTPUTS 239

9 Problem Solving and Decision Making in Groups: Theoretical Perspectives 241

10 Problem Solving and Decision Making in Groups: Practical Tips and Techniques 277

11 Managing Conflict in the Small Group 313

PART V GROUP OBSERVATION AND EVALUATION TOOLS 349

12 Tools for Assessing and Evaluating Groups 351

Appendix A: Preparing for Problem-Solving Discussions: Informational Resources for the Group 383

Appendix B: Making Public Presentations of the Group’s Output 392

Glossary 413

Credits 423 Name Index

424 Subject

Index 434

About the Author

Gloria J. Galanes is professor emerita and former dean, College of Arts and Letters, Missouri State University. Her 22 years spent in university administration have fueled her long-standing interest in small groups. In addition to small group courses, she has taught organizational communication, leadership, communication and aging, intercultural communication, quantitative research methods, and applied communication research. Dr. Galanes was the founding director of the Citizenship and Service Learning program at Missouri State.  Her classes have investigated such topics as the needs of youth in the community, the needs of older adults, and the perceptions of Springfield Public Schools on behalf of numerous community organizations in Springfield. Her research into community issues has continued since her retirement. She is the co-author of two small group communication textbooks and co-edited a text on social constructionism. Her Ph.D. is from The Ohio State University.



Katherine L. Adams is an Emerita Professor and Chair of Communication at California State University, Fresno.  She received her Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Utah under the direction of the late B. Aubrey Fisher; a renowned small group communication scholar. She taught in the areas of interpersonal communication, communication theory, and small group communication.  She authored a textbook in interpersonal communication as well as an introduction to communication.  She co-authored with Gloria Galanes, multiple editions of this group communication book as well as Communicating in Groups: Application and Skills. During her 38 year tenure in academia she chaired five academic departments and is a Past President and Distinguished Service Award winner of the Western States Communication Association.