Let $G$ be a finite group and $A$ an abelian group. Recall the cochain groups $$ C^k = \{f: G^k \to A\} $$ and the coboundary map $$ \delta : C^k \to C^{k+1} $$ $$ (\delta f)(g_1, \ldots, g_{k+1}) = f(g_2, \ldots, g_{n+1}) + \cdots + (-1)^i f(g_1, \ldots, g_i g_{i+1}, \ldots, g_{n+1}) + \cdots + f(g_1, \ldots, g_n) $$ for the group cohomology of $G$ with coefficients in $A$. To each $k$-tuple $(g_1,\ldots, g_k)$ we can associate a labeling of the (oriented) edges of the standard $k$-simplex as follows. The oriented edge from $i$ to $j$, with $i<j$, is labeled by $g_{i+1}g_{i+2}\cdots g_j$, and the edge from $j$ to $i$ is labeled by the inverse of the $i$-to-$j$ label. The canonical action of the permutation group $S_{k+1}$ on the $k$-simplex leads to an action of $S_{k+1}$ on $G^k$. Define an action of $S_{k+1}$ on $C_k$ by $$ (\sigma f)(g_1, \ldots, g_k) = (-1)^{|\sigma|} f(\sigma(g_1, \ldots, g_k)) . $$ ($|\sigma|$ denotes the parity of the permutation.) One can show (unless I've made a foolish mistake) that any group cohomology class can be represented by a $k$-cochain which is invariant under the action of $S_{k+1}$. (Sketch of proof: consider a more parsimonious model for the classifying space $BG$.) So, for example, for 1-cochains we want $$ f(g) = - f(g^{-1}) $$ and for 2-cochains we want $$ f(g,h) = f(h, (gh)^{-1}) = f((gh)^{-1}, g) = -f(h^{-1}, g^{-1}) = -f(g^{-1}, gh) = -f(gh, h^{-1}) . $$ > **My question:** Where can I find a reference for this fact about group cohomology? (The reason I care: "In the wild" one frequently comes across $k$-simplices with edges labeled as above, but these $k$-simplices don't come equipped with an isomorphism to the standard $k$-simplex. To work with standard group cochains one would need to break the symmetry and choose such an isomorphism. I'd like to avoid doing that.)