2

Chapter 3
Studying
Inclusion and
Identity
Groups
Just as researchers in the natural
sciences use exacting procedures to
study aspects of the physical
environment, so do group researchers
use scientific methods to further their
understanding of groups. They
measure as precisely as possible group
processes, develop theories that
provide coherent explanations for the
group phenomenon they study, and
collect evidence to test the adequacy of
their predictions and assumptions.

What are the three critical

requirements of a scientific approach
to the study of groups?
How do researchers measure group
processes?
What are the key characteristics of
and differences between case,
experimental, and correlational
studies of group processes?
What are the strengths and
weaknesses of case, experimental,
and correlational methods?
What theoretical perspectives guide
researchers studies of groups?

2 Studying Groups

Measurement

Research
Methods

Theoretical
Perspectives

Observation

Case Studies

Motivation & Emotion

Self-report

Experiments

Behavioral

Correlational
Studies

Systems

Issues

Cognitive
Biological

What Are the Three Critical Requirements of a

Scientific Study of Groups?

Reliable and valid measurement

Research procedures to test
hypotheses about groups
Theories that organize knowledge
of groups

Measurement
Observation

William Foote Whites

study of corner boys in
Street Corner Society
Types:
Overt
Covert
Participant

The Nortons

Doc
Doc
Bill
Bill
Danny
Danny

Mike
Mike
Long
Long
John
John
Nutsy
Nutsy

Angelo
Angelo

Frank
Frank

Fred
Fred

Carl
Carl

Joe
Joe

Lou
Lou

Tommy
Tommy

Alec
Alec

Issue: Hawthorne Effects

Measurement
Observation

Types:
Qualitative vs.
Quantitative
(structured)
Example: Robert
Freed Bales
Interaction
Process
Analysis system

Measurement
Self-report

Self-report measures: group members

describe their perceptions and experiences

Example:

A Sociogram

Out

Moreno's sociometry method

In

Social network analysis

Long
John

Tommy
Carl

Doc
Joe

Fred

Angelo

Nutsy

Frank

Alex

Mike

Danny

Lou

Research Methods

Case Studies
Experiments
Correlational Studies
Issues

Research Methods

Case Studies

An in-depth
analysis of one or
more groups based
on interviews,
observation,
analysis of archival
documents, and so
on.

Example: Irving Janiss

analysis of groupthink

Research Methods

Case Studies

Other examples

Research Methods

Experiments

Key Ingredients:
Manipulate one or
more independent
variables

Example: Lewin,
Lippitt, & Whites
leadership study

Measure one or more

dependent variables
Control other
variables, as much as
possible

Strength: Causal inference

Research Methods

Correlational Studies

Example: Newcombs
Bennington Study

Key Ingredients:
Measure two or more
variables
Assess the strength
of the relationship
between the
variables

Called correlational studies because the findings are often

expressed in the form of a correlational coefficient

Issues

Key Characteristics of, and Differences Between

Case, Experimental, and Correlational Studies of
Group Processes

Case studies: atypical of most groups, subjective,

stimulate theory

Experiments: too artificial, not real groups, but

clearest test of cause and effect

Correlational studies: limited information about

causality but precise estimates of the strength of
relationships, less artificial, fewer ethical concerns

Studying Groups

Measurement

Research
Methods

Theoretical
Perspectives

Observation

Case Studies

Motivation & Emotion

Self-report

Experiments

Behavioral

Correlational
Studies

Systems

Issues

Cognitive
Biological

Theoretical Perspectives

Behavioral

Example: Social
exchange theory

Satisfaction
Satisfaction
Level
Level
Quality of
Quality of
Alternatives
Alternatives

Investment Size
Investment Size

Commitment
Commitment
Level
Level

Stay?
Stay?

Theoretical Perspectives
Systems

Example: InputProcess-Output Model

of Group Performance

Theoretical Perspectives

Cognitive

The relationship
between perceptional/
inferential processes
and group-level
processes

Example: Group
Referent Effect

Theoretical Perspectives
Biological

Brain regions recruited

during social rejection

Biological perspectives,
such as evolutionary
theory, argue that some
group behaviors may be
rooted in physiological
and neurological
processes.

Anterior insula

Chapter 2: Studying Groups

20

Measurement

Research
Methods

Theoretical
Perspectives

Observation

Case Studies

Motivation & Emotion

Self-report

Experiments

Behavioral

Correlational
Studies

Systems

Issues

Cognitive
Biological