Author Question: Define groupthink, and identify factors that contribute to the phenomenon as well as strategies for ... (Read 134 times)

jwb375 · **on:** Jun 22, 2018

Define groupthink, and identify factors that contribute to the phenomenon as well as strategies for preventing it.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

A television producer is interested in whether women like soap operas more than sitcoms. The producer uses a random number table to select a sample of 100 households, and then makes phone calls to these households every afternoon for three weeks. Of those who were home when the producer called, 75 reported they liked soap operas more than sitcoms. Which of the following might raise questions about the results?

a. the use of archival data
b. the representativeness of the sample
c. the construct validity of the measure
d. the operational definition advanced by the magazine

mfedorka · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Groupthink is the tendency to prioritize agreement among group members over the
motivation to get accurate information and make appropriate decisions. In Janis's
model, there are three primary antecedents to groupthink: (1) group cohesiveness, (2)
group structure (e.g., unsystematic procedures, isolation, etc.), and (3) stressful
situations. It should be noted, however, that recent work indicates that high
cohesiveness may not by itself encourage groupthink. Rather, high cohesiveness in
conjunction with other conditions conducive to groupthink can encourage this tendency.
Janis has offered several strategies for preventing groupthink, including consulting with
outsiders, having leaders encourage open debate and refrain from taking a strong
position, assigning an individual in the group the role of challenging the group's ideas,
and meeting for a second time after a decision has been reached before implementing
a chosen action. Recent research suggests some additional strategies, including holding
members of the group personally accountable for the decision, having a member of the
group assigned the role of reminder, having leaders encourage information seeking
and independent thinking and discourage seeking agreement, and using computerized
group support systems.

Answer to Question 2

b