When you are given a group assignment, do you work harder or less hard than you would alone? Why? Does the research on group productivity, social loafing, group polarization, and groupthink support your prediction?

What will be an ideal response?

Good answers will point out that studies show that productivity decreases as group size increases. This is believed to be due to two factors: loss of efficiency resulting from a loss of coordination of effort and social loafing. Social loafing is a reduction in effort by individuals when they work in groups as compared to when they work alone.

The answer should also discuss how decision-making processes can be influenced by groups as well group polarization and the factors that influence the development of groupthink. Group polarization occurs when group discussion strengthens a group's dominant point of view and produces a shift toward a more extreme decision in that direction. Groupthink occurs when members of a cohesive group emphasize concurrence at the expense of critical thinking in arriving at a decision. Research indicates that cohesiveness (strength of the relationships linking group members) is a significant contributor to groupthink. It is facilitated by a strong group leader, the discrediting of information that contradicts the group's decision, conformity, and viewing the outgroup as the enemy. Flawed decisions are frequently made as a result of groupthink.