Using the Diary Method to Deal With Social Loafers on the Group Project: Its Effects on Peer Evaluations, Group Behavior, and Attitudes

Abstract

This article reports on the use of group and individual diaries to control social loafing on the group project. Although both forms of the diary were designed to prevent social loafing, neither appeared to do so. An unexpected result of the individual diaries is that they appeared to make the majority of the class, namely the “nonloafers,” more aware of and less tolerant of their loafing partners. Consequently, firings of group members were most likely to occur when individual diaries were used. This article shows how the diary method affects peer evaluations and group behavior, investigates the convergent validity of the individual diary, and summarizes students' attitudes toward the diary method.