Evaluate the collective function of references cited together in a given text segment.
Classify their combined role into one of the following categories: 'method', 'background', or 'result'.

Text:Lavergne et al. (2014) developed a two-step method for the enumeration of heterotrophic prokaryotes in coastal sediments by flow cytometry that enables high frequency analyses of 30 samples in less than 4 hours.
Category: