Which of the following is true based on research by Earley (1989) examining cultural differences in social loafing?

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To analyze Earley (1989) on cultural differences in social loafing, I will evaluate each statement in turn and assess its accuracy based on the study's findings and related social loafing research.

Option A: 'Social Loafing tends to be less common among Collectivists than among Individualists.' This aligns with a common interpretation of cross-cultural research: collectivist cultures emphasize group harmony and collective effort, which can reduce individuals' tendency to loaf when the group is evaluating performance. In practical terms, collectivists may feel greater accountability to the group and thus exert more effort, leading to less loafing compared to individualists. This makes A a plausible true statement.

Option B: 'Social Loafing tends to be less common among Individualists than among Collectivists.' This directly contradicts the typical pattern described in Earley’s findings and much of the social loafing literature, where loafing is more likely in larger, anonymous group settings and tends to be more pronounced in cultures that emphasize individual achievement over group norms. Therefore, B is incorrect.

Option C: 'Accountability reduces social loafing among Individualists, but not among Collectivists.' Earley explored how accountability mechanisms influence loafing across cultures. It is often found that accountability can mitigate loafing, particularly for individuals who are performance-driven or who operate in more individualistic contexts where personal responsibility is salient. However, the claim that accountability does not reduce loafing among Collectivists is more controversial, as collectivist norms can either amplify or dampen loafing depending on whether accountability reinforces group-oriented norms or individual evaluation. In Earley’s framing, there is evidence suggesting different patterns of responsiveness to accountability across cultures, but stating a definitive absence of effect in Collectivists would be oversimplified. Still, if Earley reported a differential effect where accountability reduces loafing for Individualists but not for Collectivists, option C would be considered accurate as part of that nuanced finding.

Option D: 'Both A and C are true.' This option asserts that A is correct and that C is also correct. Given the reasoning above, A appears consistent with collectivist reductions in loafing, and if Earley’s results included a differential effect where accountability reduces loafing in Individualists but not in Collectivists, then C would also be correct. Therefore, D, which combines both true statements A and C, would be the most accurate overall choice if Earley’s study supported that pattern.

In summary, A reflects the collectivist advantage against loafing, B contradicts the common cultural pattern, C presents a nuanced accountability effect across cultures, and D best captures the combination of A and C being true together according to the cited research.

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Which of the following is true based on research by Earley (1989) examining cultural differences in social loafing?

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