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Theory Key Names
11th Edition

Annotated list of scholars and terms, from the Instructors Manual and margin notes in the text

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Chapter 20Functional Perspective on Group Decision Making


  • Randy Hirokawa and Dennis Gouran
    • Communication researchers at the University of Hawaii and Pennsylvania State University respectively, who developed the functional perspective on group decision making. 
  • Functional perspective
    • A prescriptive approach that describes and predicts task-group performance when four communication functions are fulfilled.
  • Requisite functions
    • Requirements for positive group outcome; problem analysis, goal setting, identification of alternatives, and evaluation of pluses and minuses for each.
  • Problem analysis
    • Determining the nature, extent, and cause(s) of the problem facing the group.
  • Goal setting
    • Establishing criteria by which to judge proposed solutions.
  • Identification of alternatives
    • Generation of options to sufficiently solve the problem.
  • Evaluation of positive and negative characteristics
    • Testing the relative merits of each option against the criteria selected; weighing the benefits and costs.
  • John Dewey
    • Early twentieth-century American pragmatist philosopher developed the six-step process of reflective thinking.
  • Reflective thinking
    • Thinking that favors rational consideration over intuitive hunches or pressure from those with clout.
  • Jürgen Habermas
    • A German philosopher and social theorist who suggests a rational process through which people can determine right from wrong.
  • Discourse ethics
    • Jürgen Habermas’ vision of the ideal speech situation in which diverse participants could rationally reach a consensus on universal ethical standards.
  • Ideal speech situation
    • A discourse on ethical accountability in which discussants represent all who will be affected by the decision, pursue discourse in a spirit of seeking the common good, and are committed to finding universal standards. 
  • Cynthia Stohl and Michael Holmes
    • Critiquing the functional perspective, these communication researchers advocate adding historical and institutional functions to the process.
  • Bona fide groups
    • Intact groups with stable, yet permeable boundaries and interdependent with their immediate context; real-life groups.


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Theory Key Names
11th Edition

Annotated list of scholars and terms, from the Instructors Manual and margin notes in the text

List mode: Normal (click on theory name to show detail) | Show All details | Clear details

Chapter 20Functional Perspective on Group Decision Making


  • Randy Hirokawa and Dennis Gouran
    • Communication researchers at the University of Hawaii and Pennsylvania State University respectively, who developed the functional perspective on group decision making. 
  • Functional perspective
    • A prescriptive approach that describes and predicts task-group performance when four communication functions are fulfilled.
  • Requisite functions
    • Requirements for positive group outcome; problem analysis, goal setting, identification of alternatives, and evaluation of pluses and minuses for each.
  • Problem analysis
    • Determining the nature, extent, and cause(s) of the problem facing the group.
  • Goal setting
    • Establishing criteria by which to judge proposed solutions.
  • Identification of alternatives
    • Generation of options to sufficiently solve the problem.
  • Evaluation of positive and negative characteristics
    • Testing the relative merits of each option against the criteria selected; weighing the benefits and costs.
  • John Dewey
    • Early twentieth-century American pragmatist philosopher developed the six-step process of reflective thinking.
  • Reflective thinking
    • Thinking that favors rational consideration over intuitive hunches or pressure from those with clout.
  • Jürgen Habermas
    • A German philosopher and social theorist who suggests a rational process through which people can determine right from wrong.
  • Discourse ethics
    • Jürgen Habermas’ vision of the ideal speech situation in which diverse participants could rationally reach a consensus on universal ethical standards.
  • Ideal speech situation
    • A discourse on ethical accountability in which discussants represent all who will be affected by the decision, pursue discourse in a spirit of seeking the common good, and are committed to finding universal standards. 
  • Cynthia Stohl and Michael Holmes
    • Critiquing the functional perspective, these communication researchers advocate adding historical and institutional functions to the process.
  • Bona fide groups
    • Intact groups with stable, yet permeable boundaries and interdependent with their immediate context; real-life groups.


You can access the Key Names for a particular chapter in several ways:

  • Switch to View by Theory, then select the desired theory/chapter from the drop-down list at the top of the page. Look in the list of available resources.
  • To quickly find a theory by chapter number, use the Table of Contents and link from there. It will take you directly to the theory with available options highlighted.
  • You can also use the Theory List, which will take you directly to the theory with available options highlighted.

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