Small group research presently suffers from five major weaknesses: lack of a common conceptual base, lack of appropriate design, lack of external validity, lack of adequate instrumentation, and lack of appropriate statistical procedure. Application of Cattell's three panel model (involving syntality, characteristics of internal structure, and population traits) of group phenomena is suggested as a way to begin remediation of these weaknesses. Content validity of Cattell's paragram is established. Efforts leading toward construct validity are described. (Author)