TEMPO: A Time-based System for Analysis of Group Interaction Process

In this article we present a new system for analyzing group interaction process. The Time-by-Event-by-Member Pattern Observation (TEMPO) system provides a flexible set of coding categories applicable to a wide range of group task performance settings, and is useful in the study of a wide range of conceptual issues. Of special importance is that TEMPO is designed to permit the investigator to tie group interaction process to indices of group task performance effectiveness, and to individual member contributions to the group's task product, and that the system can be used for groups doing a wide range of types of tasks. We discuss several indices of group process that can be derived from TEMPO, and contrast the system to other systems designed for similar purposes.