TOEFL Speaking Task 3

In sociology, the concept of "social loafing" refers to the tendency of individuals to exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone. This phenomenon occurs because individuals feel their contributions are less identifiable or less critical to the overall outcome. Social loafing can reduce group productivity and morale. Researchers have found that the effect is stronger in larger groups and when tasks are routine or low in personal meaning.

Professor: Let me illustrate social loafing with a classic experiment. In one study, researchers asked participants to clap as loudly as possible. First, each person clapped alone, and their sound intensity was measured. Then, they clapped in groups of two, four, and eight. The results showed that as group size increased, the average clap volume per person decreased significantly. For example, when clapping alone, participants produced about 80 decibels, but in a group of eight, each person's average output dropped to only about 50 decibels. Interestingly, when participants were told that their individual claps would be recorded and identified, their effort increased even in large groups. This shows that reduced motivation due to decreased accountability is a key driver of social loafing.