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 reduction in motivation often occurs because individual contributions are less identifiable in a collective setting, leading people to feel their efforts are dispensable. Social loafing can undermine group productivity and is more likely in tasks where each member's input is not clearly evaluated. Researchers have studied this effect across various contexts, including sports, academics, and workplace teams, to understand when and why it occurs.

Professor: Now, let me give you a clear example from a study conducted at a university. In this study, researchers asked students to participate in a rope-pulling task. Each student pulled a rope attached to a device that measured their physical effort. In one condition, students pulled alone, and their average force was recorded. In another condition, they pulled in groups of five, but they were blindfolded and told that others were pulling with them—though in reality, they were pulling alone. Interestingly, when students believed they were part of a group, they pulled with about 20% less force than when they pulled alone. The researchers concluded that because the students felt their individual effort was hidden within the group, they unconsciously reduced their exertion. This demonstrates social loafing in a controlled setting, showing that the mere belief of being in a group can trigger reduced effort.