Random group formation is a popular method used by instructors (Pardoe,
2004). In my research of the literature, I found no empirical research showing this
leads to increased student learning or satisfaction. However, in a study of 583
marketing students across 16 sections, students in self-selected groups were found
to communicate better, have more trust in group members, work more
productively together, and better manage conflict than randomly created groups
(Chapman, Meuter, Toy, & Wright, 2006). These findings were consistent with
earlier findings by Bacon et al. (1999) and Mahenthiran et al. (2000), who saw
diminished learning and satisfaction in randomly assigned groups.