Goals

^? To study the behavior of an unstructured group in accomplishing a complex task.

^? To heighten awareness of the importance of correct interpretation of written task instructions.

^? To enable group members to compare observed behavior with typical task-group behavior.

^? To assist group members to better perceive and understand individual interactions within a task group.

Group Size

Ten to twelve participants.

Time Required

Approximately two and one-half hours.

Materials

^? One copy of the Four-Letter Words Paradox Sheet for each participant.

^? One copy of the Four-Letter Words Behavior Prediction Sheet for each of the participants.

^? One copy of the Four-Letter Words Observation Summary Sheet for each participant.

^? A copy of the Four-Letter Words Instruction Sheet.

^? A copy of the Four-Letter Words Incentive Sheet.

^? One large, sealed envelope bearing the instruction: “Do Not Open This Envelope Until You Are Really Ready To Do So” that contains a similarly sized, sealed envelope, folded in half, bearing the instruction: “If you have opened the first envelope before the required information has been given to the facilitator, you have lost $5,000 of any profit you may make. Do not open this envelope until you are really ready to do so. If you fail to observe this instruction, you will not be able to make any profit and will have incurred a further loss of $5,000.”

^? The inner, folded and sealed envelope should contain seven 3" 3" cardboard squares. A different letter of the alphabet is to be printed on both sides of each of seven squares. The seven letters are: A, E, L, O, P, S, and T.

^? A pencil for each observer.

^? A pencil for each member of the active group.

^? A wall clock, watch, or stopwatch for the timekeeper.

^? Newsprint and a felt-tipped marker.

Physical Setting

A group-on-group arrangement in which the members of the active group are seated around a large table, with sufficient room for each observer to stand behind each seated active-group member. A separate room in which the observers can be briefed.

Process

1. The facilitator briefly explains the goals of the activity. (Five minutes.)

2. An “active group” (or subgroups) of five or six members each is formed and is seated around the work table. Each member is given a copy of the Four-Letter Words Paradox Sheet. The members are directed to read the sheet thoroughly and then to discuss their reactions to the information. The active group is also told that it will soon be asked to accomplish a task. No leader is designated for the active group. (Twenty minutes.)

3. While the active-group members are following their instructions, the remaining participants are taken to a separate room and are told that they will act as the observer group. Each observer is given a copy of the Four-Letter Words Paradox Sheet and a copy of the Four-Letter Words Behavior Prediction Sheet and is allowed time to study them. The facilitator then clarifies any items on the Four-Letter Words Behavior Prediction Sheet and explains the objectives of the task to be accomplished by the active group. (Five to ten minutes.)

4. A copy of the Four-Letter Words Observation Summary Sheet and a pencil are issued to each observer. Names of the active-group members are filled in. Each observer is assigned to watch one of the members of the active group or is assigned to observe for a particular type of behavior that corresponds to one of the categories on the Four-Letter Words Behavior Prediction Sheet. (Five minutes.)

5. The observers are directed to review the following guidelines (prepared on newsprint prior to the activity):

^? The observing task is to be accomplished nonverbally.

^? Any behavior observed after the task is begun should be indicated on the Four-Letter Words Observation Summary Sheet by an “X”—one X for each time a behavior is observed.

^? No help or suggestions, in any form, should be given to the members of the active group.
(Five minutes.)

6. One of the observers is designated timekeeper. The timekeeper is told to record both the planning time and the working time of the active group, but to give no verbal reminders to the active group.

7. Both groups (active and observer) are positioned in the work room. The facilitator states the time and places one copy of the Four-Letter Words Instruction Sheet, one copy of the Four-Letter Words, Incentive Sheet, and the sealed envelope packet in the center of the table. The facilitator gives a pencil to each member of the active group and tells the members of the active group to begin the planning phase. The timekeeper starts timing. (Twenty-five minutes.)

8. When the active group gives the required information to the facilitator, the timekeeper notes the elapsed time. This information is recorded on newsprint by the facilitator.

9. The facilitator then gives the word for the task to begin, and the timekeeper keeps track of the time until the active group gives the facilitator the number of four-letter words that has been produced. (Ten minutes.)

10. One member of the observer group is directed to check the number of words produced. (See Answer Key.) This total and the time taken to complete the task are recorded on the newsprint, and the facilitator calculates the profit/loss of the active group. (Five minutes.)

11. Members of the active group report on their feelings about the task.
(Five minutes.)

12. A copy of the Four-Letter Words Observation Summary Sheet and a copy of the Four-Letter Words Behavior Prediction Sheet are issued to each member of the active group so that all members can review the observer’s data. Observers then meet with the member of the active group whom they were observing to report on their observations. If some or all observers were assigned to observe for a particular behavior, they report on their observations to the members of the active group as a whole. (Ten to fifteen minutes.)

13. After both groups have debriefed the activity and observations have been discussed, the facilitator reconvenes the total group to help summarize participants’ learnings from the experience. (Fifteen minutes.)

14. The participants are divided into subgroups and directed to discuss the factors that increase the tendency to agree to go along with a decision that one is not convinced is appropriate or accurate. (Ten minutes.)

15. One member from each subgroup serves as spokesperson to the total group to help generate a list of the groups’ factors. The facilitator records these ideas on newsprint and summarizes the data by calling attention to recurring themes and/or key factors. (Ten minutes.)

16. The participants reconvene in the subgroups to develop applications for their learnings. (Fifteen minutes.)

Variation

^? An eighth, blank square can be included in the inner envelope. A goal then would be to explore how members follow instructions in the face of conflicting information. Groups that decide to use the blank square can be disqualified for not following the written instructions.




FOUR-LETTER WORDS PARADOX SHEET

Social psychologists and group theorists¹ have studied the actions and decisions made by people in groups and compared them with actions and decisions made by people as individuals. The results may be surprising.
Frequently related to the “mob effect,” the conclusions are that people will take greater risks within a group-action context than they will as individuals; that people will tend to agree to a decision that they would not make as individuals in order to achieve group consensus; and that pressure to conform to and adopt group norms exists even if the group is not actively or consciously exerting this pressure. In other words, I might not choose to eat ice cream today, but if I am with a group of friends and someone suggests going for ice cream, I will likely acquiesce, perhaps because it is something we can all do together or because I think that the other members of the group want to go, and I do not want to be perceived as a negative element.
This tendency to agree without really agreeing may explain not only why families squabble on the way to the seashore but also why so many unofficial strikes and other disruptive actions occur in industry and commerce.

FOUR-LETTER WORDS BEHAVIOR PREDICTION SHEET

 1. One or more members of the group will attempt to achieve a leadership position.

 2. It is likely that the group will fail to fully understand the written and/or oral instructions.

 3. There will be discussion about the alternative ways in which the group could organize itself.

 4. There will be discussion about rules to be observed while doing the task.

 5. It is likely that the group members will agree to work according to certain rules.

 6. It is likely that the group members, having decided to observe certain rules, will fail to do so.

 7. There will be at least one member who will try to persuade the group to plan thoroughly before taking action.

 8. There will be at least one member who will be action oriented and will want to begin working on the task at once.

 9. There will be at least one member who will try to persuade the group to be cautious in estimating the profit that will be made.

10. It is likely that at least one member will be primarily concerned with the time factor(s) involved.

11. Unless strong leadership emerges, it is likely that the group will lose sight of its prime objective(s) and fail to perform to the required standards.

12. It is likely that one member will indicate that he or she thinks the activity is stupid and not worth doing, since the reasons for doing the task are not known and the information available is incomplete.

FOUR-LETTER WORDS INSTRUCTION SHEET

Instructions: Do not open the sealed envelope until:

1. These instructions have been read and understood,

2. The two incentive charts have been studied, and the profit motive and method of calculation are understood, and

3. The information required by the facilitator has been produced.

The sealed envelope contains seven cardboard squares. A different letter of the alphabet is printed on each square. At least one of the letters is a vowel.
As a group, your task is to write down as many Four-Letter words as possible using the seven letters. Each member of the group should make a contribution to the total number of words produced by the group. As a group your objective, while completing the task, is to make as large a monetary profit as possible.
Before beginning the task, you must give the following information to the facilitator:

1. The total number of words the group will make,

2. The time the group will take to do the task, and

3. The expected profit the group will make.

A maximum period of twenty minutes is allowed for discussion and planning before attempting the task. Any extension beyond the twenty minutes allowed will cause the imposition of an immediate $5,000 deduction from any profit made. The total number of words written down must be reported to the facilitator at the end of the time taken to do the task.
There are no further instructions. Questions may not be asked of either the facilitator or the observers.

EXAMINING TASK GROUP PROCESSES