Internet Exercises

Activity 1: Observing a Working Group

Introduction:

Usually when we think of small group communication we think of individuals sitting down around a table to meet. In this activity, you'll observe group members as they accomplish a task.

Instructions:

Go to the U.S. Library of Congress American Memory Collection's Buckaroos in Paradise: Ranching Culture in Northern Nevada, 1945-1982 webpage. Click on the Motion Pictures to view the list of films produced by Leslie Stewart in 1945 and 1951. View the three segments of "Haying Season" and use Benne and Sheats's category system to identify task, maintenance, and self-centered roles. You won't know participants by name, so just write down the behaviors you observe.

1. What functional task roles did you identify in this film? Give examples of behaviors associated with each role.

2. What socio-emotional roles did you identify in this film? Give examples of behaviors associated with each role.

3. What self-centered roles did you identify in this film? Give examples of behaviors associated with each role.

4. Which roles dominated the group's interactions? Why do you think this is the case?

5. What did you learn from this activity that you can apply to your own group experiences?

Activity 2: Local Government in Action

Introduction:

Although the term "government" is typically associated with the federal government, local governments often impact our daily lives more than Washington. In this activity, you'll look at the interactions of a local city or county governing body.

Instructions:

Find your city's or county's website. For example, if you live in San José, California, click here . Second, locate the link for the city council, board of supervisors, or other governing group. For San José, this is the City Council . Third, click on the link that lists the group's meetings. For the City of San José's City Council, that link is City Council Meetings. Finally, click on the link that allows you to see or hear the group's meetings, such as http://www.ci.san-jose.ca.us/livecouncil/index.html for San José. If you can't observe your local government's meetings online, then go to the San José (or another city's) website that provides Internet access to meetings.

Check the group's meeting schedule and agenda. For example, the San José City Council generally meets every Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. When you identify a meeting time that fits with your schedule, get ready to observe.

Use Bales's Interaction Categories to observe the group. After your observation, answer the questions below.

1. What categories were evident most often in the group's interactions? Provide specific examples.

2. What categories were least evident in the group's interactions? Provide specific examples.

3. What is the balance between task and social-emotional behaviors?

4. Overall, how would you rate the group's discussion? Why did you evaluate the group in that way?

5. If you were asked to be a group discussion consultant for this group, what advice would you give group members?

6. What have you learned from this activity that you can use in future group discussions?