ABSTRACT
There is no ideal group size. Instead, there is an ideal range of five to seven. For PBL exercises of short duration, six is preferred because smaller groups can organize themselves quickly. Participation of the entire group over the short term is better to assure and monitor in groups of six. With teams of five, the work becomes almost unbearable. If one person in a group of five drops out, the remaining four will have great difficulties completing the project. For longer-term PBL exercises, the upper range of seven or eight members works best. These larger teams take more time to organize. They are more difficult to monitor, and it is possible for a student to remain inactive for a longer period. Large teams have more insulation against dropouts. Most importantly with long-term projects, large teams are likely to have a more efficient distribution of tasks, reducing ennui and burnout in the later part of the project. Teams that are formed with nine or more members have serious organizational challenges. Unless the students are experienced in group work, the team will tend to split into smaller internal groups. Large groups need more informal lines of authority. They cannot function without some students becoming leaders in some instances. Finally, the time required to digest reports generated in a very large team is daunting. Fewer reports, read over a shorter period of time and discussed by a smaller group, generate more satisfying experiences with the research.
