definitional - small group communication.

According to Buzzle.com, "small group communication is, of course, the communication that is

carried out within a small group. A small group is generally defined as a group that consistes of at

least three members and the maximum around twelve to fifteen members."Just like there are four types of nonverbal messages and nonverbal communications, there are also four types of small group communication. The four types are primary groups, casual/social, learning/education, and work groups. Many of these types focus on problem solving and are task oriented groups. According to Tubbs and Moss, some examples of small groups involved in communication are a "student council, a commission investigating the causes of prison riots, a fund-raising committee for a political party, and a tenants' association organized to fight rent increases." 

Even though many small groups may involve problem solving, they certainly do not have to. The first type of small group communication, or primary groups, are the basic groups to which we belong. Some primary groups involve our friends or our childhood friends. These groups are made once we form our social identity and once we realize we belong to a group. 

Once we have established our primary groups, it is easier to belong to social groups, such as teammates, sorority sisters, and classmates. Even though these friendships and acquaintances may not last that long, they will continue to influence us throughout our life. They will determine the way we think and act thirty years from now. The primary and social groups do not necessary involve problem solving because much of the communication involved in these two groups is spontaneous and informal. 

The third type of small group communication involves the learning group. When members of this group come together, they come to teach or learn something about a given subject. Although members of this group come together to solve problems or learn something, they are not in an authoritative position; therefore, they may come up with great ideas, but they cannot put their ideas into actions. 

Work groups usually take place in the context of a job and have specific goals to achieve. Whereas members of the other groups may have had a lot in common, members of this group usually do not have a lot in common except for the assigned task. Another difference between this group and the others is the willingness to work. While it may not have mattered if you didn't participate in the other groups, it matters in this one. Since these group members are often paid for their work, it is important to do the work and do it well.