A review of the research literature concerning the effects of cooperation and competition on small-group productivity suggests that results have been conflicting and inconclusive. From a methodological standpoint, the inconsistent finings result from the use of experimental tasks which create systematic bias in favor of either the cooperative or the competitive condition. The relative merits of cooperative and competitive behaviors are dependent on three situational variables: the type of task involved, the age of the subjects, and their attitudes toward cooperation and competition. A table summarizing the results from 33 relevant studies is included as an appendix. (AA)