Editing Communication in small groups (section)

===Linear phase model===
The most influential of these discoveries has been the latter; the linear phase model. The idea that all groups performing a given type of task go through the same series of stages in the same order was replicated through the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s; with most finding four phases of discussion. For example, communication researcher B. Aubrey Fisher showed groups going sequentially through an orientation stage, a conflict stage, a stage in which a decision emerges and a stage in which that decision is reinforced.<ref>Fisher, B. A.  (1970). Decision emergence: Phases in group decision making. ''Speech Monographs, 37,'' 53-66.</ref> Much of this research (although not necessarily Fisher's) had two fundamental flaws. First, all group data was combined before analysis, making it impossible to determine whether there were differences among groups in their sequence of discussion. Second, group discussion content was compared across the same number of stages as the researcher hypothesized, such that if the researcher believed there were four stages to discussion, there was no way to find out if there actually were five or more. In the 1980s, communication researcher [[Marshall Scott Poole]] examined a sample of groups without making these errors and noted substantial differences among them in the number and order of stages.<ref>[[Marshall Scott Poole|Poole, M. S.]], & Roth, J. (1989). Decision development in small groups IV: A typology of group decision paths. ''Human Communication Research, 15,'' 323-356.</ref> He hypothesized that groups finding themselves in some difficulty due to task complexity, an unclear leadership structure or poor cohesion act as if they feel the need to conduct a "complete" discussion and thus are more likely to pass through all stages as the linear phase model implies, whereas groups feeling confident due to task simplicity, a clear leadership structure and cohesion are more likely to skip stages apparently deemed unnecessary.