A teacher finds that students put in less effort on a group chart, where only the final chart is marked, than on their own work. Consider the following statements offered as explanations of this behaviour:
(A) Group members feel less responsible for the overall task being performed.
(B) Motivation of members decreases because they realise that their contributions will be evaluated on individual basis.
(C) The performance of the group is to be compared with other groups.
(D) There is an improper coordination among members.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Only two
(A) Group members feel less responsible for the overall task being performed. — Correct. The students show social loafing: less effort by each person on a group task whose output is pooled. Feeling less responsible for the overall task is one of its explanations.
(B) Motivation of members decreases because they realise that their contributions will be evaluated on individual basis. — Incorrect. Motivation falls because members realise their contributions will not be evaluated on individual basis. The statement changes "will not be" to "will be".
(C) The performance of the group is to be compared with other groups. — Incorrect. The explanation is that the group's performance is not to be compared with other groups. The statement drops the word "not".
(D) There is an improper coordination among members. — Correct. Improper coordination, or no coordination at all, among members is one explanation of social loafing.
NCERT (2026-27): “Social Loafing … “• Group members feel less responsible for the overall task being performed and therefore exert less effort.” “• Motivation of members decreases because they realise that their contributions will not be evaluated on individual basis.” “• The performance of the group is not to be compared with other groups.” “• There is an improper coordination (or no coordination) among members.” |