Small group communication is defined as communication between 3 to 15 members who freely communicate with each other and share common goals and purposes. The key features of small groups include their size, members, tasks, and norms. There are also primary types of small groups such as social groups, self-help groups, learning groups, service groups, public groups, work groups, and virtual groups. Small group communication can involve different types of talk centered around tasks, roles, identity, and interpersonal exchanges.

1. SMALL GROUP
COMMUNICATION

2. DEFINITION
Interpersonal communication is observed
Members communicate Freely
Have common purpose/goals

3. PRIMARY FEATURES
Group size
 3-15 members (Socha, 1997)

4. >Members
coordinate to
do certain
tasks.
“ What a
member do will
affect the
entire group.”

5. TASK
Considered as
the purpose of
the group.

6. NORMS
limits of allowable behaviors of individual members of
the group.
It is a guideline or rule to regulate the behavior of the goup
members.
SECONDARY FEATURES

7. IDENTITY
Psychological
and/or physical
boundaries that
distinguished
group members
from a non-
group
members.

8.  4 types
Problem- solving talk
Centers on accomplishing group task
Role talk
centers on the specific role each group member plays in the
group.
Consciousness-raising talk
centers on group identification and pride and is
essential to group development, morale, and identity.
Encounter talk
consists of interpersonal communication.
TALK

9. Primary group
Family, close friends
TYPES OF SMALL GROUP

10. Same
interest, hobbies, with
common activities.
SOCIAL GROUP

11. membership
comprises
individuals who
share a common
problem or life
situation
(Meissen, Warren, &
Kendall, 1996).
SELF-HELP GROUP

12. Study
groups, research
groups, etc.
LEARNING GROUP

13. Volunteers, service
groups in
campus, etc.
SERVICE GROUP

14. Symposium, panel
discussion, etc.
PUBLIC GROUP

15. Common in
organizational
context.
Complete a common
task on behalf of an
organization.
WORK GROUP

16. Social
networking, internet
friends, etc.
VIRTUAL GROUP

17.  http://www.sagepub.com/upm
-data/18524_Chapter1.pdf
 http://katelynmeno.blogspot.c
om/2009/11/small-group-
communication-definition.html
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Communication_in_small_grou
ps
 http://2012books.lardbucket.
org/books/communication-in-
the-real-world-an-introduction-
to-communication-
studies/section_13.html
 http://www.buzzle.com/article
s/small-group-communication-
effective-team-
communication.html
REFERENCES