POWER IN SMALL GROUPS

OUTLINE OF STUDENT INFORMATION

1. Definitions
   
   
   1. Power is a force that gives one communicator (or unit) the ability to influence another communicator (or unit) to take an action which would not otherwise be taken.
      
      
   2. Authority refers to power validated by the formal cultural, societal, small group, and organizational rules and practices.
      
      
   3. Politics occurs when group members vie for power and influence over others.
   
   
   
2. Forms Of Power
   
   
   1. Dominance is a form of power that occurs when one or more group member has the ability to influence others who are not able to respond in kind.
      
      
   2. Resistance is a form of power that arises in response to dominance.
      
      
   3. Empowerment occurs when group members allow power to be distributed somewhat evenly among group members.
   
   
   
3. Identifying Power
   
   
   1. Small group culture is a good place to examine the artifacts of power.
      
      
   2. Power distribution becomes embedded in the group's culture and thus legitimized.
      
      
   3. The cultural indicators discussed in the Culture and Small Group Communication unit are also useful indicators of the way power is exercised in a group.
      
      
      1. Vocabulary: what terms are used to describe various group members? Who controls the language the group uses? How does the group define itself?
         
         
      2. Practices: who controls how group members accomplish their tasks? To what degree do group members have autonomy as they complete tasks and make decisions?
         
         
      3. Stories: who tells stories? Who makes decisions? Who carries out those decisions? Who gives out rewards/punishments? Who receives those rewards/punishments?
         
         
      4. Metaphors: In what terms do group members describe themselves?
         
         
      5. Rituals: who develops group rituals? Who implements them? Who participates in rituals? Who does not?
         
         
      6. Objects: objects often embody the essence of the group. The slogan or logo the group chooses to represent itself can reveal the way power is distributed in the group.
      
      
      
   4. When examining the ways in which power in regulated within a group, it is important to look beyond the cultural indicators to the values beneath them.

REFERENCES

ADDITIONAL READING

ONLINE RESOURCES

ADDITIONAL READING

ONLINE RESOURCES (instructor)

MAJOR ASSIGNMENT

1. Observe television portrayals (recent or past) of task-oriented small groups (e.g., "M*A*S*H," "NYPD Blue," "Voyager," "ER"). Select at least three shows and watch a minimum of two episodes of each show.
   
   
2. Conduct a case study of a task-oriented small group, such as a local government council or a campus committee. Observe at least three meetings and conduct in-depth interviews with at least two of the group members.
   
   
3. View a minimum of 4 commercial films (either current or older) that depict task-oriented small groups (e.g., "Toy Story 2," "Apollo 13," "The Commitments," "Charlotte's Web"). You will probably need to watch each film more than once.
   
   
4. Choose one of the above projects, but choose shows or movies you can use to compare and contrast power in social groups vs. task-oriented groups. For example, view two films that focus on tasked-oriented small groups (such as "12 Angry Men" and "Ghostbusters") and two that focus on social groups (e.g., "Steel Magnolias" and "Diner").

PROJECT PLAN

1. Introduction: a paragraph or two that introduces your topic and the paper format.
   
   
2. Rationale and significance of the project: here you need to provide reasons for doing the particular project you've chosen. In addition, you want to indicate that you've done some preliminary research in this area to provide support for your rationale. You also want to discuss why you are interested in this project. Finally, you need to clearly state your objectives for the project. What do you hope to accomplish?
   
   
3. Area(s) of inquiry: what will be the focus of your research? Which aspects of power and small group processes will you study? What course concepts are applicable to your project?
   
   
4. Methods: how will you go about gathering information? What movies will you examine? What groups will you observe? Which television shows will you analyze? Who is responsible for what tasks? What is your timetable for the project? Be thorough and explicit in this section, so you and I have a clear idea of what you plan to do.

1. relevance to power in small groups;
   
   
2. clarity of objectives and rationale;
   
   
3. demonstrated knowledge of relevant course material;
   
   
4. specificity of methods;
   
   
5. the degree to which you will be able to execute the project;
   
   
6. evidence of group effort;
   
   
7. creativity; and
   
   
8. mechanical and structural appropriateness.

REPORT

1. Introduction
   
   
2. Objectives and rationale.
   
   
3. Relevant course concepts.
   
   
4. Methods (e.g., What movies did you review? Why those movies? What were you looking for? What were your procedures? Write this section so someone else could conduct your study. If you conducted interviews or used an evaluation form in viewing the films or TV shows, include the interview guide or evaluation form in the Appendix).
   
   
5. Findings: this is the analysis section. You should apply course concepts as well as outside research in your analysis.
   
   
6. Implications and conclusions: here, go beyond your findings to speculate on what your research implies about critical thinking and small group communication. What conclusions can you draw based on your analysis? Situate your findings within course material and your outside research.
   
   
7. Annotated bibliography: a list of references you used in the project, including a 3-4 sentence description of each citation. You must have 1 reference for each group member.
   
   
8. Appendices: include any materials used in your project, such as interview guides and your format for observation field notes.

1. relevance of the project to the course;
   
   
2. demonstrated familiarity with appropriate course concepts;
   
   
3. evidence of appropriate research;
   
   
4. clarity of discussion of methods used;
   
   
5. application of course concepts to findings, implications, and conclusions;
   
   
6. insight into power and small group communication processes;
   
   
7. completeness (all sections included);
   
   
8. evidence of group effort;
   
   
9. creativity; and
   
   
10. presentation or writing style.

PROJECT ACTIVITY LOG

INDIVIDUAL GROUP MEMBER EVALUATIONS

ACTIVITIES

1. In class, review the forms of power (dominance, prevention, and empowerment) and power sources (information, expertise, legitimate, affiliation, and rewards/punishments). Divide students into three groups, one for each form of power. Watch Phillip Zimbardo's film "Stanford Prison Study," based on his 1970s' mock-prison experiment. (The old version is about 20 minutes; the new version, "Quiet Rage," is about 45 minutes. The first version works better for the activity because there is less interpretation). Have each group identify examples of its assigned form of power as well as sources of power. After the film, allow group members a few minutes to compare notes. Have each group report on its findings.
   
   
2. The first 30 minutes of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe is another useful example of power dynamics. Have student pay particular attention to the change that occurs when the interaction goes from a dyad (Martha and George) to a small group (when Nick and Honey arrive). The film provides many useful examples of politics, the use of language and nonverbal cues during the characters' attempts to influence each other, the development of coalitions, and the unethical use of power. It's useful to divide students into groups; have each group focus on a specific aspect of power.
   
   
3. Have students assess power in their permanent/project groups. Modify the questionnaire below to fit your class discussions of power.

1. Power Resources and Indicators
   
   
   1. What power resources (information, expertise, rewards/punishments, personal qualities, authority) do group members use? Give examples.
      
      
   2. What indicators of power (group culture [e.g., stories, practices, rituals], language, nonverbal) can you identify within your group's interactions?
   
   
   
2. Conformity
   
   
   1. To what degree do group members conform to group norms?
      
      
   2. What strategies are used to encourage compliance?
   
   
   
3. Resistance
   
   
   1. To what degree do group members use resistance strategies? Give examples.
      
      
   2. Have any group members been openly defiant? How did other group members respond?
   
   
   
4. Assertiveness
   
   
   1. Identify examples of group members exhibiting assertive behaviors.
      
      
   2. How do these behaviors empower group members?
   
   
   
5. Assessment
   
   
   1. What are your group's areas of strength in power issues?
      
      
   2. What areas of weakness can you identify?
      
      
   3. What changes, if any, do you need to make in how your group functions to improve the use of power in your group?
      
      
   4. What have you learned from this analysis that you can apply to future small group work?

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