Today in class, we discussed collective action. We learned that while collective action is a very powerful concept which can be utilized to accomplish great things, it also has a few potential problems.
The most notable problem is the Free Rider Problem (that is, a lack of contribution). This problem can affect you personally in terms of your group project, as we saw from this graph:
Luckily, there are a few ways to counter the free rider problem:
1.) Monitoring (the capacity to view and measure type and amount of contribution)
2.) Sanctioning (the capacity to impose rewards and punishments based on contribution behavior)
3.) Dependence (degree to which group is only source of goods)
Reminder!
If you choose to present your group project to the class, you can earn 10 extra credit points. If you choose to present your group project to the class this Friday, you earn an additional 10 extra credit points (that's 20 extra credit points total!)
Do we just submit our video to our TA and tell them we want to present it in class?
ReplyDeleteI was curious as to how we submit the video for extra credit also. Where do we upload it?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt is very funny how relevant this free rider problem is in today's society. Most people want to get the most they can out of as little work as possible. My group has not been a problem however i bet there are some "free riders" in other groups.
ReplyDeleteI think that the "free rider" problem is particularly relevant to this project that we are doing because i have a person in my group that has done no work but expects to get a good grade on it. It is not fair that me and the other three group mates spent hours working on this project and they receive the same grade that we do.
ReplyDeleteI agree Deej, that is why groups are supposed to discuss any free rider problems in their group with their TA, as we discussed in class , so that grades can be adjusted to reflect contribution.
ReplyDeleteI agree Deej about how someone who becomes a free rider gets the same grade as those of us who worked harder and completed the majority of the assignment. I'd to suggest peer evaluations in future classes to help solve this problem to some degree.
ReplyDeleteSeeing these comments about free riders, and thinking about the ones in my life, I often wonder how they got to be that way. The only ideas I have are family, possibly friends and the way the kids were raised. I know I was raised to work hard and to give EVERYTHING I do 100%. My mother instilled in me a good work ethic so I don't take anything or anyone for granted. I'm guessing that these free riders don't have that kind of work ethic...any other ideas as to where these people originate from?
ReplyDeleteI also agree with everyone who posted something about the free rider problem. This seems to be a common issue between many groups, and I think it could easily be fixed if people had more time to pick groups and discuss what they wanted to get out of the project.
ReplyDeleteHey Alyssa- I agree that it is difficult to get people to work together well-- especially in such a big class. I would love to hear your ideas and others about how to improve the process of finding group members. In my smaller (and higher level) classes I have less of a problem with that, but in the big setting it seems extra hard.
ReplyDeleteI think the "free rider" problem relates to what we learned about in psychology a couple of weeks ago. social loafing-tendency for people to exert less effort when they pool their efforts toward a common goal and do not feel individually accountable for their performance (rope pulling studies)When people are put into groups, some people in that group may feel less accountable their actions. They might just expect or hope someone in the group does a majority of the work and doesn't care what everyone else contributes.
ReplyDeleteI think that the free-rider problem is definitely a problem, especially on big scale goals. But for something like a group project in college, when you're dealing with three or four other people should not be a problem. I think there is so much pressure in society to not speak your mind. As a matter of fact it is almost breaking a social norm to just say what you're thinking when it comes to you. And although I understand that there is good that comes from this, I also think that there are downfalls. How assanine is it that it is socially unacceptable to confront a person who is failing to contribute their fair share? It is on the same playing field with a lot of other problems, such as not speaking your mind when you are in a relationship, it also causes problems. I think society needs to start saying what they feel when they feel it, and stop juding people who do that. Because no one that I have ever met can mindread; the only way to ever solve a problem and reach a goal, when in a group, is through open communication.
ReplyDelete