Group Communication for Professional Life
(First Edition)
©2025, 332 pages
Paperback list price: $102.95
Cognella Direct Ebook: $57.95
You save $45 (44%)
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The book's chapters are organized to demonstrate the lifespan of a group, from the selection of group members, through important processes associated with effective groupwork, concluding with evaluating what has been produced and how it was accomplished. Each chapter features four key elements: assessments for personal and group understanding, spotlights on practical skills, examinations of business tools and techniques, and considerations of virtual team best practices. Chapters end with key takeaways and review questions to consolidate learning and encourage application.
Group Communication for Professional Life is a reader-friendly textbook rich with relevant academic and applied insights for undergraduate courses in small group communication, group dynamics, organizational communication, and teamwork.
Marianne Dainton (Ph.D., The Ohio State University) is a professor emerita of communication at La Salle University. Dr. Dainton is the author/coauthor of Group Communication for Professional Life, Applying Communication Theory for Professional Life, and Strategic Communication Research Methods.
Other Cognella titles by Marianne Dainton:Cognella Active Learning is available for this title! Adopting instructors can provide students with dynamic online learning activities that reinforce key concepts from the text, provide engaging educational experiences, and support various learning styles.
Please note: Cognella Active Learning can be bundled for purchase with the text or posted separately. Contact us to learn about bundle discounts.
The Cognella Active Learning content for Group and Team Communication for Professional Life includes:
To see a full demo, please email us and one of our adoption specialists will follow up with you.
Please note: Cognella Active Learning can be bundled for purchase with the text or posted separately. Contact us to learn about bundle discounts.
The Cognella Active Learning content for Group and Team Communication for Professional Life includes:
- 12 decks of digital flashcards
- 12 sequencing activities
- 12 video assignments
- 9 self-assessments
- 12 chapter quizzes
- 2 readings
To see a full demo, please email us and one of our adoption specialists will follow up with you.
Formats and Bulk Order Pricing for Confirmed Adoptions
Publisher Direct Versions — Available through the Cognella Student Store for confirmed adoptions |
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$57.95
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Publisher Direct Ebook | Publisher Direct ebooks are available in your Cognella account immediately after purchase and provide access for 180 days. Our ebooks run on VitalSource and RedShelf with perpetual/annual options available. |
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Publisher Direct Paperback | These special, discounted paperback editions are sold exclusively through the Cognella Student Store (store.cognella.com) for confirmed adoptions. They are not available through other retailers. The books are printed on demand, do not have an ISBN, and are not intended for resale, which results in savings we pass along to students. Most Publisher Direct Paperbacks also come with free, immediate access to the first 30% of the ebook and shipping included. |
| $30.95 | Standalone Cognella Active Learning | Cognella Active Learning provides dynamic online content within a custom digital learning environment. Free with purchase of textbook or ebook. |
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| $102.95 | Paperback 978-1-7935-7886-0 |
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| $102.95 | Paperback + Cognella Active Learning Code 979-8-8233-5767-8 |
Cognella Active Learning provides students with dynamic online content within a custom digital learning environment. Access codes are available with print books or ebooks. Contact us for course adoptions; not available for individual purchase. |
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| $30.95 | Standalone Cognella Active Learning Talk to a rep for ISBN details |
Cognella Active Learning provides dynamic online content within a custom digital learning environment. Does not include the ebook. Contact us for course adoptions; not available for individual purchase. |
Adopting instructors will receive PowerPoints, test banks, sample syllabi, and an instructor's manual.
"I love the connection of concepts with practical skills. […] The organization of the chapters appears very natural and logical, building on a groups’ experience from the start (grouping) to the finish (evaluating their work). […] The accessible writing style of the author will allow for increased understanding by my students. Dainton’s writing style is far more accessible than the writing style of the current textbook I use. […] Dainton’s up-to-date research is extremely valuable given recent changes to education and the workplace regarding use of social media, online learning, and frequency of virtual meetings."
Kelly Crue, St. Cloud Technical & Community College
"I think Professor Dainton does a good job of writing the text to specifically prepare students for the professional world. The specific real-world examples blended with the research help students to grasp the contents and how it will relate to their current or future workplace. […] There is a balance of both theory and application. Professor Dainton clearly starts by identifying the term and then engaging the readers by providing examples they can relate to. I really appreciate the author’s use of pointing out key differences in terms and why sometimes they are incorrectly used interchangeably. For example, groups versus teams. […] The text is extremely reader friendly because there are many current examples that students can relate to and that it is written in a way that 'speaks to' students.
Daryle Nagano-Krier, El Camino College
"The distinctive strengths of this text lie in the spotlights sections at the end of each chapter – the virtual groups and tactics/techniques were all interesting and would be useful in class. The value is that they are pulled out of the text and organized in their own section -so it would be a great rhythm in class to end each week with a technique and virtual group spotlight. [...] When used, the examples and narratives in this text are unique from other texts and interesting to read. I think this would help with student engagement. [...] The chapter on diversity is a wonderful distinction from other texts. I appreciate the exploration into a variety of different types of diversity. This would enrich classroom discussions to think about diversity in more nuanced ways."
Cassidy Emmerich, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
"Theory contextualized in each of the chapters makes it feel real and applicable. I think students can often dislike learning about theory because they don’t necessarily see its application to their life and experiences. This book will help with that. […] I also really like how it is essentially organized based on the stages a group goes through. The book basically says “let me walk you through all of the important aspects of groups, beginning to end.” Students don’t often focus on the before and after. Most focus is on when I am in the group. […] I really appreciated the 4 features that are provided at the end of every chapter. I think these will be helpful to both students and faculty. The virtual groups spotlight is a great idea with all of the technology that is so integrated into every part of our lives. The tools/techniques are thoughtful ways to make the group experience better, and I really appreciate how the practical skills can be helpful to students so that they can understand themselves better as group members."
Aimee Lau, Wisconsin Lutheran College
"I liked the balance of theory and application. Some texts do not include any theory. I like how the applications were explained based in the described theories.
Aimee L. Richards, Fairmont State University
"The book would be an asset to the study of group communication."
Lori Melton McKinnon, Oklahoma State University
Kelly Crue, St. Cloud Technical & Community College
"I think Professor Dainton does a good job of writing the text to specifically prepare students for the professional world. The specific real-world examples blended with the research help students to grasp the contents and how it will relate to their current or future workplace. […] There is a balance of both theory and application. Professor Dainton clearly starts by identifying the term and then engaging the readers by providing examples they can relate to. I really appreciate the author’s use of pointing out key differences in terms and why sometimes they are incorrectly used interchangeably. For example, groups versus teams. […] The text is extremely reader friendly because there are many current examples that students can relate to and that it is written in a way that 'speaks to' students.
Daryle Nagano-Krier, El Camino College
"The distinctive strengths of this text lie in the spotlights sections at the end of each chapter – the virtual groups and tactics/techniques were all interesting and would be useful in class. The value is that they are pulled out of the text and organized in their own section -so it would be a great rhythm in class to end each week with a technique and virtual group spotlight. [...] When used, the examples and narratives in this text are unique from other texts and interesting to read. I think this would help with student engagement. [...] The chapter on diversity is a wonderful distinction from other texts. I appreciate the exploration into a variety of different types of diversity. This would enrich classroom discussions to think about diversity in more nuanced ways."
Cassidy Emmerich, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
"Theory contextualized in each of the chapters makes it feel real and applicable. I think students can often dislike learning about theory because they don’t necessarily see its application to their life and experiences. This book will help with that. […] I also really like how it is essentially organized based on the stages a group goes through. The book basically says “let me walk you through all of the important aspects of groups, beginning to end.” Students don’t often focus on the before and after. Most focus is on when I am in the group. […] I really appreciated the 4 features that are provided at the end of every chapter. I think these will be helpful to both students and faculty. The virtual groups spotlight is a great idea with all of the technology that is so integrated into every part of our lives. The tools/techniques are thoughtful ways to make the group experience better, and I really appreciate how the practical skills can be helpful to students so that they can understand themselves better as group members."
Aimee Lau, Wisconsin Lutheran College
"I liked the balance of theory and application. Some texts do not include any theory. I like how the applications were explained based in the described theories.
Aimee L. Richards, Fairmont State University
"The book would be an asset to the study of group communication."
Lori Melton McKinnon, Oklahoma State University
