Group Communication Video Cases
Group Communication Video Cases
Video 1 Response: Helping Annie
The video of the school nurse, psychiatrist, and the case worker discussing ways to help Annie is a good video to analyze group diversity and communication styles. Two of these individuals are females and the other is a male, Max. Annie is a 17 year old high school student suffering from possible depression and an eating disorder. The school nurse is the individual that has noticed Annie’s issues and has turned to the case worker and psychiatrist for help. The combination of individuals with different job titles, skills, personalities, and ideas is an effective way to discover techniques to help Annie. As a result, group member diversity exists.
This particular group is a
heterogeneous group because not all members are the same. Max seems to believe the best way to approach the situation is to provide Annie with medication. However, the female nurse, Judy, has spoken with Annie and believes an effective method is to provide Annie with group therapy. The other female individual has similar ideas as Judy and feels the best way to approach the situation is on a group basis. In other words, she feels the group needs to meet with Annie and then determine the next best step or method.
The diversity amongst the group did have an effect on communication styles and was a hindrance to communication. For example, Max strongly believed his ideas were effective, which caused him to ignore the ideas of others and interrupt communication. Therefore, the female individuals had a difficult time expressing ideas. Two communication methods that could have been used to better facilitate the group are team talk to help use language effectively and nonverbal communication, such as vocal expression. Vocal expression can help the members say words properly.
Reference
Engleberg, I. N. & Wynn, D. R. (2010). Working in groups. (5th ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.
Video 2 Response: Planning a Playground
The individuals in this video did an adequate job of communicating and interacting to discover a plan to build a playground. Additionally, the group used both verbal and nonverbal communication to discuss ideas. One form of verbal communication that is used adequately in the video is team talk. For example, each of the individuals in the group has different ideas and suggestions, but the individuals incorporate pronouns properly, such as we. Using such pronouns is an effective method to conduct suitable verbal communication because group members can be cooperative and interactive. Furthermore, such pronouns help group members be involved and not isolated or singled out.
On the other hand, one form of nonverbal communication that is acceptably used in the video is vocal expression. Each of the group members used good volume and pitch when speaking, which allowed the group to agree and disagree adequately. Moreover, the successful use of vocal expressions reduced misunderstanding and frustration. For instance, one of the group members, Betty, had an idea to use bake sales to help generate money for the playground, but two other members did not believe bake sales would work. However, although there was a disagreement, Betty did not seem to get upset because the opposing individuals used vocal expressions successfully to give their input.
Although the group did use some nonverbal communication methods successfully, some of the group members could have did a better job of using other nonverbal communication methods. For example, some group members needed to do better with facial expressions and eye contact. Two individuals in particular, Phil and Ray, could have been more facial expressive and gave more eye contact to individuals that were speaking to show interest. Physical expression could have been better as well to enhance interest.
Reference
Engleberg, I. N. & Wynn, D. R. (2010). Working in groups. (5th ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.
Video 1 Response: Helping Annie
The video of the school nurse, psychiatrist, and the case worker discussing ways to help Annie is a good video to analyze group diversity and communication styles. Two of these individuals are females and the other is a male, Max. Annie is a 17 year old high school student suffering from possible depression and an eating disorder. The school nurse is the individual that has noticed Annie’s issues and has turned to the case worker and psychiatrist for help. The combination of individuals with different job titles, skills, personalities, and ideas is an effective way to discover techniques to help Annie. As a result, group member diversity exists.
This particular group is a
heterogeneous group because not all members are the same. Max seems to believe the best way to approach the situation is to provide Annie with medication. However, the female nurse, Judy, has spoken with Annie and believes an effective method is to provide Annie with group therapy. The other female individual has similar ideas as Judy and feels the best way to approach the situation is on a group basis. In other words, she feels the group needs to meet with Annie and then determine the next best step or method.
The diversity amongst the group did have an effect on communication styles and was a hindrance to communication. For example, Max strongly believed his ideas were effective, which caused him to ignore the ideas of others and interrupt communication. Therefore, the female individuals had a difficult time expressing ideas. Two communication methods that could have been used to better facilitate the group are team talk to help use language effectively and nonverbal communication, such as vocal expression. Vocal expression can help the members say words properly.
Reference
Engleberg, I. N. & Wynn, D. R. (2010). Working in groups. (5th ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.
Video 2 Response: Planning a Playground
The individuals in this video did an adequate job of communicating and interacting to discover a plan to build a playground. Additionally, the group used both verbal and nonverbal communication to discuss ideas. One form of verbal communication that is used adequately in the video is team talk. For example, each of the individuals in the group has different ideas and suggestions, but the individuals incorporate pronouns properly, such as we. Using such pronouns is an effective method to conduct suitable verbal communication because group members can be cooperative and interactive. Furthermore, such pronouns help group members be involved and not isolated or singled out.
On the other hand, one form of nonverbal communication that is acceptably used in the video is vocal expression. Each of the group members used good volume and pitch when speaking, which allowed the group to agree and disagree adequately. Moreover, the successful use of vocal expressions reduced misunderstanding and frustration. For instance, one of the group members, Betty, had an idea to use bake sales to help generate money for the playground, but two other members did not believe bake sales would work. However, although there was a disagreement, Betty did not seem to get upset because the opposing individuals used vocal expressions successfully to give their input.
Although the group did use some nonverbal communication methods successfully, some of the group members could have did a better job of using other nonverbal communication methods. For example, some group members needed to do better with facial expressions and eye contact. Two individuals in particular, Phil and Ray, could have been more facial expressive and gave more eye contact to individuals that were speaking to show interest. Physical expression could have been better as well to enhance interest.
Reference
Engleberg, I. N. & Wynn, D. R. (2010). Working in groups. (5th ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.