Assessing the Reliability and Validity of the Competent Group Communicator Problem Solving Assessment Instrument

Abstract

This research uniquely contributes to the group communication scholarship by investigating the validity and reliability of an assessment instrument, the Competent Group Communicator Instrument: An Instrument to Assess Small Group ProblemSolving Discussion (CGC). Steven Beebe and Kevin Barge designed this instrument from the functional theoretical perspective which captures functions of problem-solving discussions within a small group. Through their research, Beebe and Barge (1994) identified nine problem-solving competencies that work within four relational and task functions of small group communication. The current investigation established evidence of validity and reliability of the CGC at the holistic group and individual group member levels within the context of the small group communication. Eleven research questions were posed and findings suggest that participants were able to discriminate differences between an effective and an ineffective group interaction and among individual group members' competency levels using the CGC as the assessment tool. In addition, results indicated that the four task and relational :functions, including the nine competencies, reliably assessed the group interactions.