Most experimental social psychologists have attempted to reduce the properties of small groups to the characteristics of individuals comprising those small groups. But social psychology was developed, in part, to bridge the gap between psychological and sociological levels of analysis. We contend that the small group can serve as an experimental unit in experiments that model and manipulate group processes. The small group is an important topic for study and could provide a valuable bridge between psychology and sociology, fulfilling one of the original purposes of the field.
EllwoodC.Prolegomena to social psychology: I. American Journal of Sociology, 1899, 4, 656–665.
3.
ElmsA.The crisis of confidence in social psychology. American Psychologist, 1975, 30, 967–976.
4.
FestingerL.A theory of cognitive dissonance. New York: Row, Peterson, 1957.
5.
GergenK. L.The psychology of behavior exchange. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1969.
6.
HaneyC.BanksC.ZimbardoP.Interpersonal dynamics in a simulated prison. International Journal of Criminology, 1973, 1, 69–97.
7.
HempelC. G.Philosophy of natural science. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1966.
8.
KarpfF. B.American social psychology. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1932.
9.
LewinK.LippittR.WhiteR.Patterns of aggressive behavior in experimentally created “social climates.”Journal of Social Psychology, 1939, 10, 271–299.
10.
MurphyG.MurphyL.Experimental social psychology. New York: Harper, 1931.
11.
RossE.Discussion: What is social psychology?Psychological Bulletin, 1909, 6, 409–411.
12.
ShawM. E.Communication networks. In BerkowitzL. (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology, Vol. 1. New York: Academic Press, 1964. Pp. 111–146.
13.
SherifM.The psychology of social norms. New York: Harper, 1936.
14.
SherifM.Crisis in social psychology: Some remarks towards breaking through the crises. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1977, 3, 368–382.
15.
SherifM.SherifC.An outline of social psychology. New York: Harper, 1956.
16.
SteinerI.Whatever happened to the group in social psychology?Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 1974, 10, 94–108.
