Though not arguing against the practical value of group decision making per se, Tindale and Larson (1992) used data from computer simulations and an eight-group replication study as a basis for questioning the validity of the findings reported by Michaelsen, Watson, and Black (1989). We show that their application of computer simulations is suspect, that their replication-study data is so limited that its significance is questionable, that their operational definition of an assembly bonus effect is restrictive to the point that it has little meaning in real-world settings, and that their claims with respect to the performance of ad hoc laboratory groups are inflated and misleading.We would like to express our appreciation for the extremely helpful comments provided by an anonymous reviewer of earlier versions of this article. His or her thoughtful insights improved both our understanding of the issues and the quality of our finished product.
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