Volume 7, Article 7
“There is nothing as practical as a good theory” – A position paper on the development of group flow research
Fabian Pels and Jens Kleinert
Citation: Pels, F., & Kleinert, J. (2023). “There is nothing as practical as a good theory” – A position paper on the development of group flow research. European Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 7, 7, 1-5. https://www.nationalwellbeingservice.org/volumes/volume-7-2023/volume-7-article-7/
Processing dates: Submitted 11 November 2023; Resubmitted 15 February 2023; Accepted 15 May 2023; Published 10 November 2023
Abstract
Group flow refers to the phenomenon of a group accomplishing a group task harmoniously, perfectly coordinated, and seemingly effortlessly as if in a flow. In order to describe and explain group flow, researchers have developed commendable theoretical approaches in the past. However, three limitations can be observed in the current status of theoretical approaches to group flow: (1) There is some research on group flow without any theoretical background, (2) there are problems with regard to how authors treat different basic theoretical conceptualizations of what group flow is, and (3) the existing theoretical approaches have limitations. The reasons of these limitations are multifaceted (e.g., lack of description of the underlying phenomenon, complexity of multi-level constructs), representing a collaborative challenge for the scientific community. Given the importance of a sound theoretical approach for research and application of the group flow concept, we recommend next steps (e.g., consensus conference, continuous networking) to be addressed with the collective effort of the scientific community. The recommended steps are expected to help establish group flow as a concept in Positive Psychology.
Keywords: team flow, theory building, research, measurement, intervention
Biographies
Fabian Pels is with the Department of Health & Social Psychology, Institute of Psychology, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5134-5151
Jens Kleinert is with the Department of Health & Social Psychology, Institute of Psychology, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7793-1274