ABSTRACT
The analysis of cognitive processes in interdisciplinary groups is expected to identify mechanisms and strategies for facilitating the effective use of interdisciplinary teams. This chapter reviews the research literature on the influences on groups that contribute to their effectiveness. Variables of interest within this literature have included leadership style, communicative processes, conformity, group composition, group effectiveness, and a host of other variables. Although groups have the potential to be more productive than individualistic efforts for many tasks, the vulnerability of effective group processing to cognitive and social influences must be recognized. Influences such as the press for conformity or status differences may limit individual's willingness to contradict other group member's or may result in an individual devaluing the knowledge he or she. Each individual in an interdisciplinary team works from the perspective of his or her own discipline. Experts in a discipline share a common referential base, and communication among such experts is facilitated by the use of common referents.
