A model of social loafing

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Social interaction: Models

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A model of social loafing in real work groups is proposed. Relying on prior research, this model cites the perceived lack of potential for evaluation of individual contributions and the perceived dispensability of effort as factors that may contribute to social loafing. In addition, this model includes other contributing factors, such as the perceived lack of influence over task results, the perceived loafing by other group members, the cultural predisposition to individualism and the task's lack of motivation value. In an attempt to shift the study of social loafing from a laboratory environment to the workplace setting, the model incorporates accounts for the effect of feedback. Thus, the perceived group performance problems and the perceived relative task ability are also added as possible factors for social loafing. Guidelines for preventing social loafing are presented.

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Full Text COPYRIGHT Plenum Publishing Corporation 1995

Organizations are increasingly calling upon project teams, ad hoc task forces, quality circles, ongoing crews, and other groups to perform work (Finholt & Sproull, 1990; Galbraith & Kazanjian, 1988; Hackman,

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by their uncertainty about the contributions of the other members with whom they are interdependent for doing work and earning rewards. Because individuals who work with others in a group forfeit the assurance of personal control over the outcome of the task, their effort declines. That is, motivation decreases as expectancy of a desired outcome decreases (Bandura, 1982; Vroom, 1964). These results indicate that a perceived lack of influence is a force that can drive "disheartened" loafing, and that a sense of influence can restrain the driving force of lack of evaluation potential. Perceived Loafing by Other Group Members The perception that one's fellow group members are loafing may increase the likelihood of one's own loafing. Veiga reported that group members who believe their co-workers are "generally unwilling to commit themselves to accomplishing the task at hand" will reduce their own contributions to the task (1991, p. 882). It has been proposed that people reduce their own contributions in groups because they wish to avoid playing the being taken advantage of by group members who loaf while they contribute, sucker role - and Kerr (1983) has documented that individuals are more likely to loaf if their able coworke
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Schlenker Weigold, Weldon Mustari, Outcomes Price, LOAFING REAL, Van Fleet, Gersick Hackman, Goethals Darley, Social Psychology, Kaplan Metlay, DISCUSSION Models, social loafing, social psychology, perceived lack, lack influence, wish avoid, perceived dispensability, personality social, personality social psychology, journal personality social, potential evaluation, perceived lack influence, journal personality, influence task, influence task outcomes, wish avoid appearing,
Approximate Word count = 8346
Approximate Pages = 33 (250 words per page)

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