Read the summary and the most important questions on Group Dynamics | 9781133956532 | Donelson R. Forsyth

• 1 Why do we from groups?

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• Which 2 motivations are fundamental in understanding group dynamics?

  1. The motivation to connect (getting along)

  2. The motivation to compete (getting ahead)

  ->  These drives drive our interaction, our group structure, with whom we cooperate etc. 

• Explain what this graph says over cognitive cooperation! 

  Groups perform better on tasks as e.g. guess with 5 questions the country I'm thinking of. 

  In the graph, you can see that groups and individuals found the same sort of tasks either easy or difficult. However, groups did better on them! 

• What is the principle of wisdom of the crowds ?

  Sir Francis Galton (1822-1911) came up with this principle. 

  Def.: On problems regarding cognition, coordination, and cooperation, groups are often smarter than individuals.

  
  

  
  

• Which for conditions are required in order for wisdom of the crowds to work?

  1. Diversity of opinion: there has to be diversity of opinion

  
  

  2. Independence: there has to be independence of people's estimate (write it down on your own)

  
  

  3. Decentralization: there has to be some decentralization (not one individual responding for all)

  
  

  4. Aggregation: there should be some decision rule like take the average of the estimate 

  
  

  -> If the whole crowd thinks the same thing, the wisdom of crowds is not present!

• What is the wisdom of crowds?

  Why two heads are often better than one

• Google knows about the principle of wisdom of the crowds. What do you need to have as a company according to the google manager?

  According to the manager of google, zoo can work with a consensus, but you have to have 2 things:

  a) somebody to enforce a deadline.

  b) You have to have consent!

• What are the 4 criteria for whisdom of crowds?

  - diversity of opinion

  - independance (individually give an answer on paper)

  - decentralisation

  - aggregation (decision rule, like take the mean)

• What is needed for the wisdom of crowds according to the CEO of Google?

  - a deadline

  - dissent (hear everyone's opinion)

• what kind of goals and group task do you have?

  Generation, 

  (rasing new ideas , looking for new markets, reducing cost) 

  
  

  Choosing, 

  (deciding which main courses)

  
  

  negogiating, managing difference in opinions 

  (arguing who to blame for loosing, political leaders) 

  
  

  executing, taking action, carrying out planes. 

  (sport team, building a house, deadlines)

  
  

• Perceiving groups: What is entitativity?

  Entitativity is the apparent cohesiveness or unity of an assemblage of individuals. Can you identify it as a unity?

  It is measured on a continuum.