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The article discusses parsimonious definition of group. A group is defined as the largest set of two or more individual, who are jointly characterized by a network of relevant communication, a shared sense of collective Identity, and one or more shared goal dispositions with associated nonnative strength. It shall be maintained that this definition simultaneously optimizes the evaluative criteria of parsimony, conceptual clarity, and scientific utility. The plan of this article involves a brief discussion of the reality of groups, followed by a short review of prior definitions of group. Then the author David Horton Smith returns in greater depth and detail to the definition of group used here, explaining the implications of each of the four elements included. A rather lengthy statement of the external criterion of utility in defining group, as well as a discussion of the internal criteria of clarity and parsimony, will follow. After this will come an evaluation of the present definition in terms of the criteria of utility, clarity, and parsimony, and then a discussion of the definitional relevance of other analytical elements of group structure and functioning. Finally, the discussion will be concluded by suggesting several important implications of the present definition for future research and theory.

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