The Challenges, Value, and Path Forward for “Small” Sample Organizational Team Research

Abstract

A panel of organizational team scholars will discuss why we have developed into a literature that only publishes work that has 80+ teams in the sample, what implications this has on the organizational team literature, and whether there is space and need for small sample size team research. Indeed, reviews of the literature regarding team research conducted in the field (i.e., within organizations versus lab-based or archival samples) indicates that in some of the premier management outlets over the past five years the average number of teams in articles published was 81 teams. It appears that the number of teams needed for publication in premier outlets is increasing as work based on earlier time periods would suggest the sample size needed between 2000 and 2010 was closer to 50 teams. In part, this trend is being accentuated by some journals requiring power analyses prior to articles being sent out for review which is also raising the sample size bar. While such approaches have their benefits including allowing for certain methodological techniques to be utilized, there may be rich and interesting scenarios (e.g., unique contexts) where only small sample sizes are possible (or needed).