20 multiple-choice (MCQ / objective) questions from this chapter, in several exam-style shapes. Every question comes with an explanation along with the answer, so you remember why the option is correct, not just which one it is.
1 Direct Questions
Direct Questions
- 1 markWhich of these is the book’s own definition of a group?
(A) Any collection of people gathered at one place(B) An organised system of two or more interdependent, interacting individuals with common motives, role relationships and norms(C) A set of people who share the same nationality(D) Any number of people who share one opinion - 1 markPeople who have assembled to watch a cricket match or your school function are NOT a group because they lack:
(A) Interdependence, defined roles and expectations of each other(B) Interest in the match(C) Any age in common(D) A common location - 1 markWhich of the following correctly states BOTH of the book’s stated differences between a group and a team?
(A) In a team, both individual contribution and teamwork matter, and members hold themselves responsible even though there is a leader(B) Teams never have a leader(C) Groups always outperform teams(D) In a team, only the leader is ever responsible for the work - 1 markAccording to the chapter, which condition of group formation is illustrated by ‘you would probably not have become friends if you were not living in the same colony or going to the same school’?
(A) Similarity(B) Proximity(C) Common motives and goals(D) Cohesiveness - 1 markIn Tuckman’s model, a hierarchy of leadership develops in the group once which stage is complete?
(A) Adjourning(B) Forming(C) Storming(D) Norming - 1 markWho discovered the phenomenon of groupthink?
(A) Tuckman(B) Tajfel(C) Irving Janis(D) Latané - 1 markWhich historical decision does the book cite as an example of groupthink?
(A) The partition of India(B) The fall of the Berlin Wall(C) The Cuban Missile Crisis(D) The escalation of the Vietnam War (1964-1967) - 1 markIn Latané’s clapping/cheering experiment, as group size increased from being alone to groups of 2, 4 and 6, what happened?
(A) Total noise dropped, but per-person noise rose(B) Total noise and per-person noise both rose(C) Total noise rose, but noise per participant dropped(D) Both total and per-person noise stayed the same
2 Assertion-Reason
Assertion-Reason
- 1 markAssertion (A): A crowd is considered a group.
Reason (R): A crowd is a collection of people present at one place.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A(B) Both A and R are true, but R does not correctly explain A(C) A is true, but R is false(D) A is false, but R is true - 1 markAssertion (A): Groupthink is characterised by an appearance of unanimous agreement within the group.
Reason (R): Members do not voice dissent because they fear it will hurt group cohesion and make them unpopular.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A(B) Both A and R are true, but R does not correctly explain A(C) A is true, but R is false(D) A is false, but R is true
3 Match the Following
Match the Following
- 1 markMatch List I (Concept) with List II (Its example/description in the chapter).
List I: (1) Crowd (2) Team (3) Formal group (4) Primary group
List II: (i) A university (ii) Family, caste, religion (iii) People gathered after a road accident (iv) Complementary skills, common goal, mutual accountability
(A) 1-iii, 2-iv, 3-i, 4-ii(B) 1-i, 2-ii, 3-iii, 4-iv(C) 1-iii, 2-i, 3-iv, 4-ii(D) 1-ii, 2-iii, 3-iv, 4-i - 1 markMatch List I (Person) with List II (Their contribution in this chapter).
List I: (1) Irving Janis (2) Tajfel (3) Latané (4) Tuckman
List II: (i) Minimal Group Paradigm experiment (ii) Five-stage model of group formation (iii) Groupthink (iv) Clapping/cheering social loafing experiment
(A) 1-iii, 2-iv, 3-i, 4-ii(B) 1-ii, 2-i, 3-iii, 4-iv(C) 1-iii, 2-i, 3-iv, 4-ii(D) 1-i, 2-iii, 3-ii, 4-iv
4 Statement-Based Questions
Statement-Based Questions
- 1 markConsider these statements about groups and crowds.
(i) A crowd has a clear structure and a strong feeling of belongingness.
(ii) A group involves interdependence, defined roles and expectations among members.
(A) Only (ii) is true(B) Both are true(C) Only (i) is true(D) Both are false - 1 markConsider these statements about group polarisation.
(i) Group polarisation means the group’s initial position gets stronger after discussion.
(ii) According to the book, groups always take more moderate decisions than individuals.
(A) Only (i) is true(B) Both are true(C) Only (ii) is true(D) Both are false
5 Arrange in the Correct Order
Arrange in the Correct Order
- 1 markArrange the steps of Tajfel’s Minimal Group Paradigm experiment (Box 7.2) in the order the book describes them.
1. The children distributed money between recipients known only by code number and group membership.
2. British schoolboys expressed their preference for paintings by Vassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee.
3. The children knew which group they were in (Kandinsky group or Klee group), with other members’ identities hidden by code numbers.
4. The results showed that the children favoured their own group.
(A) 1-3-2-4(B) 2-3-1-4(C) 3-2-1-4(D) 4-3-1-2 - 1 markArrange Tuckman’s five stages of group formation in their correct order.
1. Norming
2. Performing
3. Forming
4. Storming
5. Adjourning
(A) 3-1-4-2-5(B) 4-3-1-2-5(C) 3-4-1-2-5(D) 3-4-2-1-5
6 Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the Blanks
- 1 markThe tendency of a group to override realistic appraisal of its options in favour of unanimity is called ______.
(A) Groupthink(B) Group polarisation(C) Social facilitation(D) Social loafing
7 Odd One Out
Odd One Out
- 1 markThree of these are elements of group structure named in the book. Which one is NOT?
(A) Norms(B) Popularity rating(C) Status(D) Roles
8 Passage-Based Questions
Passage-Based Questions
Passage
Irving Janis discovered a process called groupthink, in which a group’s concern for unanimity overrides the motivation to realistically appraise its options, resulting in irrational and uncritical decisions. Groupthink is marked by an appearance of consensus: each member believes everyone agrees, and no one voices a dissenting opinion because they believe it would hurt the group’s cohesion and make them unpopular. Such groups develop an exaggerated sense of their own power and tend to ignore or minimise real-world signs of danger to their plan, in order to preserve internal harmony. Groupthink is likely in socially homogeneous, cohesive groups that are isolated from outsiders, have no tradition of considering alternatives, and face a decision with high costs or failures. From 1964 to 1967, President Lyndon Johnson and his advisors escalated the Vietnam War believing it would bring North Vietnam to the peace table, despite warnings: a miscalculation that cost 56,000 American and more than one million Vietnamese lives.
- 1 markBased on the passage, why did President Johnson’s advisors continue to escalate the Vietnam War?
(A) They had no information at all about the war(B) They were following orders from the United Nations(C) They wanted to reduce military spending(D) They believed escalation would bring North Vietnam to the peace table, despite warnings
9 True / False
True / False
- 1 markConsider these statements.
(i) The book says formal groups are based on specific rules or laws.
(ii) The book says informal groups are also based on specific rules or laws.
(A) Both are true(B) Only (ii) is true(C) Only (i) is true(D) Both are false
Answer Key and Explanations
Direct Questions
- (B) This is the chapter’s exact definition of a group.
- (A) The chapter says such a gathering is at one place but not interdependent, with no defined roles/status/expectations.
- (A) The book’s own two differences: performance depends on individual contribution in groups vs teamwork too in teams; leader holds responsibility in groups vs members holding themselves responsible in teams.
- (B) This is the book’s own proximity example.
- (C) After the storming stage is complete, some sort of hierarchy of leadership develops in the group, along with a clear vision of how to achieve the group goal.
- (C) Irving Janis discovered a process known as groupthink.
- (D) The book names the Vietnam War escalation under President Lyndon Johnson as its groupthink example.
- (C) Total noise rose with size, but each participant’s own contribution dropped: this is social loafing.
Assertion-Reason
- (D) A is false: a crowd is NOT a group, despite being a collection of people at one place. R is true (that is exactly what a crowd is), and it is precisely why A is false: being at one place is not enough to make a group, since a crowd lacks interdependence and structure.
- (A) Both are true, and R is exactly why groupthink shows an appearance of unanimity.
Match the Following
- (A) Crowd = road accident gathering, Team = complementary skills/common goal, Formal group = university, Primary group = family/caste/religion.
- (C) Janis = groupthink, Tajfel = Minimal Group Paradigm, Latané = social loafing experiment, Tuckman = five stages.
Statement-Based Questions
- (A) (i) is false: a crowd has neither structure nor belongingness, per the book. (ii) is true, describing a group correctly.
- (A) (i) is true. (ii) is false: the book says groups are MORE likely to take extreme decisions than individuals, not more moderate ones.
Arrange in the Correct Order
- (B) Preferences were expressed first (2), then the children were placed in groups whose other members were hidden by code numbers (3), then they distributed money (1), and the results showed ingroup favouritism (4), i.e. 2-3-1-4.
- (C) The correct order is Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, Adjourning, i.e. 3-4-1-2-5.
Fill in the Blanks
- (A) This is the book’s definition of groupthink.
Odd One Out
- (B) The four elements are roles, norms, status and cohesiveness: ‘popularity rating’ is not one of them.
Passage-Based Questions
- (D) The passage says they believed escalation would force North Vietnam to negotiate, despite warnings against it.
True / False
- (C) (i) is true. (ii) is false: informal groups are NOT based on rules or laws, per the book.
More for this chapter