"Zeitgeist" but for groups smaller than society as a whole?
Fashion
If consensus is too permanent / authoritive then the more inherantly transient word fashion may be appropriate.
For example:
The fashionable view of the archaeology community favored "pots not people" over mass migration.
This ODO example brings up sensibility as an interesting alternative:
The fashions and sensibilities of popular culture contributed to the idea more than anything, even more than the nightly news.
Another word would be vogue:
vogue The prevailing fashion or style at a particular time. General acceptance or favour; popularity.