TOEFL Speaking Task 3

Social loafing is a phenomenon in which individuals exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone. This occurs because people feel their individual contributions are less identifiable in a group setting, leading to reduced motivation and accountability. Social loafing can undermine group productivity and is more likely to occur in large groups or when tasks are simple and repetitive. Researchers have studied this effect in various contexts, including workplace teams and classroom projects.

Professor: Today, let's look at a real example of social loafing. In a university psychology class, the professor assigned a group project to write a 10-page research paper. The class was divided into teams of five. One team, led by a student named Mark, decided to split the work equally—each member would write two pages. However, as the deadline approached, Mark noticed that two members, Sarah and Tom, were contributing very little. They attended meetings but rarely submitted their sections. When Mark asked them, they said they assumed others would cover the gaps. In contrast, when the professor gave an individual quiz on the same material, Sarah and Tom studied hard and performed well. This shows that in the group setting, they felt their lack of effort was hidden, so they slacked off. But when their individual performance was measured, they put in full effort.