7 Studying Groups and Organizations Free Online FlashCards

What should a study of a group examine?

Study what people do together and how relationships and setting shape events; compare different kinds of evidence because no single method captures every part of group life.

How do participant and non-participant observation differ?

Participant observation involves joining group activities while observing; non-participant observation involves watching without joining.

What should a practical observation plan specify?

An observation plan specifies the research question, setting and sample, unit of observation, and what to record.

Why separate observation notes from interpretation?

Record actions and context before interpreting meaning. Keep descriptions separate from analytic memos so assumptions are not mistaken for evidence.

What does Interaction Process Analysis do?

Interaction Process Analysis classifies communication into categories so researchers can compare interaction patterns across members or meetings.

What do nodes and ties represent in social network analysis?

In social network analysis, nodes represent people or organizations, and ties represent relationships between them.

How do directed and undirected network ties differ?

A directed tie has a specified direction, such as A seeking advice from B. An undirected tie has no direction, such as mutual collaboration.

What does defining a network boundary mean?

A network boundary defines who or what counts as part of the network and which relationships matter to the research question.

What does degree centrality measure, and what can it not establish alone?

Degree centrality counts an actor’s direct ties. It can identify actors with many connections, but does not by itself establish influence or effectiveness.

What can high betweenness centrality indicate?

Betweenness centrality measures how often an actor lies on shortest paths between other actors. High betweenness may indicate a bridge between separated network parts.

What does network density describe?

Density describes how many possible ties in a network are present. A dense network has many connections, but density does not automatically mean better performance.

What do components and isolates reveal in a network?

Components are connected subgroups; isolates are actors with few or no recorded ties.