Data Gathering
“In science, observation (through data gathering)
is a search for what is hidden, not just
because it is hidden, but because its exposure
will facilitate an intimate, sustained, and
productive relationship with the world.”
– A. Kaplan
1. The Big Questions
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How do you define effectiveness?
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What are the group goals? (stated & unstated)
What are the individual goals? (stated & unstated)
What factors contributed to effectiveness?
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Networks
Communication climate & skills
Decision-making style
Structural issues (make-up of the group, size etc.)
Leadership style
Other (environment, trust, etc.)
2. Overview of methods
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Categorize Behaviors
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Verbal
Nonverbal
Tests & Scales (e.g. Semantic differential)
 Observe & Interview
 Socio-metric (choice making)
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“With whom would you like to sit?”
3. Decision-points
Purpose
 Degree of inference
 Units of behavior
 Sampling (events or over time)
 When to record
 Recording methods
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4. Special Problems
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The observer
 Inference-observation confusion
 “Demand” characteristics
“The instrument”
 Behavior-construct gap
 Terministic screen
Reliability
Validity
Basic Rule - The more the burden of interpretation is
placed on on the observer, the greater the validity
problem.
5. Sample technique
Rating scales
 Evaluation of individual participants
 Post-meeting reaction sheets
 Interaction diagrams
 Bales IPA
 Clampitt (Content Style Analysis)
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6. Putting the data into perspective
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Triangulation
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Agree
Disagree
Neutral
Distinguishing between individual and
group effectiveness
 Linking communication and group
effectiveness
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