Social loafing and expectancy-value theory

Expectancy value theory holds that goal-directed behavior is a function of (a) expectations-the belief that performance depends on effort, (b) instrum entality-the belief that outcome depends on performance, and (c) outcome va lue-the value attached to achieving the outcome. The present research provi des a direct test of two factors involved in the instrumentality component: the contingency between individual performance and group performance and t he contingency between group performance and group outcome. Experiment 1 re vealed that collective participants worked hard when they perceived a conti ngency between individual performance and group performance. Experiment 2 r evealed that collective participants worked hard when they perceived a cont ingency between group performance and the group outcome. Taken together, th e results confirm the importance of high instrumentality in eliminating soc ial loafing.