From Tuckman’s stages of group development to the concept of “work group norms,” this episode breaks down how groups form, how expectations take shape (often without anyone realizing it), and why those norms can either drive productivity—or lead to dysfunction like social loafing.

Whether you're working on a class project, part of a team, or just tired of doing all the work yourself, this episode offers a clearer understanding of how groups actually function—and how to make them work better.

About the Host:

Ross Briese is a Communications and Media Studies major at the Community College of Baltimore County with aspirations of becoming an investigative journalist. This episode reflects Ross’s interest in how media and communication shape human behavior, focusing here on the dynamics of group interaction and collaboration.

Sources Featured in This Episode:

• Lineberry, Jasmine. Small Group Communication
• Brilhart, John K., and Gloria J. Galanes. Effective Group Discussion
• Hackman, J. Richard. Research on work group norms
• Feldman, Daniel Charles. Research on group norms and functions
• Locke, Edwin A., and Gary P. Latham. Goal-Setting Theory

Music Credit:

Intro and outro music: “Soul Groove” by Josh Woodward. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. www.joshwoodward.com