ABSTRACT
The theory of social systems is a sort of framework theory posing questions and to some extent showing ways in which solutions may later be found. It is a heuristic, though almost never methodological device for generating and examining the data in group research. A small group as a microsystem has to be interpreted under all of the various aspects together, because these various aspects are the constituent elements of the system if such an elaborate view can be reduced to such basic assumptions. This systems-theoretical perspective not only tries to hint at what is not integrated into a theoretical approach but also at how research can be brought together under a more abstract viewpoint. To some extent, such a viewpoint might help to differentiate and integrate at the same time. Both are necessary for small-group research because both of these aspects open up more alternatives.
