A reference for studying groups and teams — the broadest methods palette in the field. Curated from the Small Group Research (SGR) methodology literature, organized into six method families.
The six method families
Pick the family that fits your research question, then drill into the exemplars.
1. Reviews, scoping reviews, bibliometrics & meta-analyses
For synthesizing or mapping a literature.
- Carter et al. (2019) — Schmidt–Hunter random-effects meta-analysis of team design (428 samples).
- Emich et al. (2020) — 50-year keyword-co-occurrence bibliometric of the SGR corpus.
- Jackson (2025) — prospecting review of computational small-groups modeling (a newer review genre).
- PRISMA exemplars: Reinert et al. (2025), van Rijswijk et al. (2024), Moffat (2025, scoping).
2. Response Surface Methodology & multilevel SEM
For congruence/incongruence and curvilinear hypotheses.
- Bonito (2022) — GAPIM → Multilevel SEM extension + power simulation (a pure methods paper).
- Vahle-Hinz et al. (2024) — Multilevel Response Surface Analysis (MRSA).
3. Social Network Analysis
For relational/structural questions.
- Sahoo et al. (2024) — round-robin design; inclusion and exclusion as separate constructs.
- Roth & Doehne (2024) — natural-experiment full-roster SNA.
4. Behavioral observation, coding & multimodal analysis
For studying interaction “in the wild.”
- act4teams coding scheme (Allen & Lehmann-Willenbrock, Berg et al.).
- Klonek et al. (2020) — the Communication Analysis Tool (free, browser-based live coding).
5. Computational text analysis
For language and digital traces.
- Pilny et al. (2025) — RNN vs. transformer (DistilBERT) benchmark for classifying group dialogue.
- Müller-Frommeyer & Kauffeld (2022) — dynamic Language Style Matching (exposes the static-LSM artifact).
6. Innovative experimental & quasi-experimental designs
For causal claims in lab/field.
- Müller et al. (2022) — algorithmic group-formation field experiment.
- Game/simulation platforms as labs: Overcooked (Feitosa 2024), Second Life CVE (Massey 2024).
Rigor practices worth adopting (from across the cluster)
- PRISMA reporting · Cohen’s κ interrater reliability · ICC + rwg aggregation justification (and its limits)
- Time-lagged / multi-wave designs · cluster-robust SEs for nested data · OSF code/data deposits
- Ingels et al. (2023) — survey-nonresponse caveat: rwg/ICC can look fine while masking who responded.
Source: SGR “Methodology in Groups and Teams” cluster (93 sources).
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References
Allen, J. A., & Lehmann-Willenbrock, N. (2024). Story-telling, well-organized, or solution-focused meeting? Investigation of behavior-based group profiles and performance. Small Group Research, 55(2), 264–289.
Bonito, J. A. (2022). Extending the group actor–partner interdependence model. Small Group Research, 53(2), 207–243. https://doi.org/10.1177/10464964211012457
Carter, K. M., Mead, B. A., Stewart, G. L., Nielsen, J. D., & Solimeo, S. L. (2019). Reviewing work team design characteristics across industries: Combining meta-analysis and comprehensive synthesis. Small Group Research, 50(1), 138–188.
Emich, K. J., Kumar, S., Lu, L., Norder, K., & Pandey, N. (2020). Group research at 50: A bibliometric reflection. Small Group Research, 51(6), 659–699. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496420934541
Feitosa, J., Davis, A., Romain, R., & Delice, F. (2024). Team membership change events: Processes that support gender diverse teams. Small Group Research, 55(3), 375–416. https://doi.org/10.1177/10464964231209924
Ingels, D., Spitzmuller, C., Thomas, C. L., Kazmi, M. A., Allen, N. J., & Hysong, S. J. (2023). Team-member role characteristics as predictors of response behavior on team-related surveys. Small Group Research, 54(3), 335–368.
Jackson, M. H. (2025). Modeling of small groups in computational sciences: A prospecting review. Small Group Research, 56(1), 3–31. https://doi.org/10.1177/10464964241279164
Klonek, F. E., Meinecke, A. L., Hay, G., & Parker, S. K. (2020). Capturing team dynamics in the wild: The communication analysis tool. Small Group Research, 51(3), 303–341. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496420904126
Müller-Frommeyer, L. C., & Kauffeld, S. (2022). Capturing the temporal dynamics of language style matching in groups and teams. Small Group Research, 53(4), 503–531. https://doi.org/10.1177/10464964211073347
Müller, A., Bellhäuser, H., Konert, J., & Röpke, R. (2022). Effects of group formation on student satisfaction and performance: A field experiment. Small Group Research, 53(2), 244–273. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496420988592
Massey, A. P., Montoya, M. M., Samuel, B. M., & Windeler, J. B. (2024). Presence and team performance in synchronous collaborative virtual environments. Small Group Research, 55(2), 290–329.
Moffat, A., Matz, R., Fowler, R., & Jeffrey, M. (2025). Facets of team equity: A scoping review. Small Group Research, 56(1), 32–70. https://doi.org/10.1177/10464964241281057
Pilny, A., Bonito, J. A., & Schecter, A. (2025). Coding small group communication with AI: RNNs and transformers with context. Small Group Research, 56(5), 864–893. https://doi.org/10.1177/10464964251314197
Reinert, C., Buengeler, C., Lehmann-Willenbrock, N., & Homan, A. C. (2025). Reviewing and revisiting the processes and emergent states underlying team diversity effects. Small Group Research, 56(1), 114–163. https://doi.org/10.1177/10464964241275748
Roth, P., & Doehne, M. (2024). Cohesion is lower in virtualized collaborations: A comparison of teams’ network structure. Small Group Research, 55(4), 560–594.
Sahoo, M., Janardhanan, N. S., & Ekkirala, S. (2024). Team ties, embeddedness, and turnover intentions: Integrating social networks and field theory. Small Group Research, 55(3), 417–456.
Vahle-Hinz, T., Otto, K., & Rigotti, T. (2024). Effects of demands and resources in the team context. Small Group Research, 55(6), 884–918.
van Rijswijk, J., Curșeu, P. L., & van Oortmerssen, L. (2024). Cognitive and neurodiversity in groups: A systematic and integrative review. Small Group Research, 55(1), 44–88.