TABLE 1.

Overview of research questions and data sources

		Data sources
Research questions		Qualitative	Quantitative
1	Do students’ overall perceptions of group work differ between high- (top 50% on rank-ordered group assignments and tests) and low-performance groups (bottom 50%)? And do perceptions also differ if they are high (top 33% using ranked final course grades) and lower scorers (bottom 33%)?	Interviews conducted with high- and low-scoring students in high- and low-performance groups	Group scores and individual test scores
2	To what extent do students’ use group-based support strategies (e.g., roles, group contract, and peer evaluations) to communicate feedback to their peers?	Interviews conducted with high- and low-scoring students in high- and low-performance groups	Group scores and individual test scores
3	Do the frequency of students’ reports of the five elements of social interdependence theory differ between high- and low-performance groups?	Analysis of categories and themes prevalent in peer-evaluation comments	Comparison of frequency of categories of comments on peer evaluations when administered midsemester (formative) versus at the end of the semester (summative)
4	To what extent do peer-evaluation ratings and comments distinguish high- and low-performance groups and higher- and lower-scoring students within those groups?	Comparison of comments left by peers on mid- and end-of-semester evaluations	Comparison of ratings left by peers on midsemester and end-of-semester evaluations