Max Ringelmann was a 19th century French engineer who studied how group productivity changes with group size. He found that individual effort decreases as group size increases, an effect known as the Ringelmann Effect. There are two sources of process loss in groups: motivational losses due to social loafing where people exert less effort in a group, and coordination losses from difficulties coordinating group work. Social loafing has been shown in studies where groups performed tasks like noise making or pulling on a rope, with individual effort decreasing as more people performed the task together.

1. The Ringelmann
Effect
Reported by:
Ella Mae D. Ayen

2. -December 10, 1861- May 2,
1931
- He is a 19th-century French
agricultural engineer.
- Should you plow a field with
two horses or three?, Can five
men crank faster than four?”
Maximilien “Max” Ringelmann

3. - One of the first researchers to
study the relationship between
process loss and group
productivity. (1913)
- One of the founder in Social
Psychology
Maximilien “Max” Ringelmann

4. Ringelmann Effect
- The tendency, first documented by Max
Ringelmann, for people to become less
productive when they work with others. This
loss of efficiency increases as group size
increases, but at a gradually decreasing rate.

5. Ringelmann Effect
- One Person 100 units
Two Person 186 units (200)
Three Person Group 255 units (300)
Eight Person Group 392 units (800)

6. Ringelmann Effect

7. Ringelmann Effect
- There are two key sources of process loss when
worked together:
• Motivational losses
• Coordination losses
- “Groups become less productive as group size
increases”

8. - The reduction of individual effort
exerted when people work in groups
compared to when they work alone is
known as Social Loafing.
- People carrying out all sorts of
physical and mental (brainstorming,
evaluating, monitoring & etc.) have
been shown to exert less effort when
they combine their efforts in a group
situation.
Motivational Loss: Social Loafing

9. - Latane, Williams & Harkins
examined social loafing by studying
groups performing an extremely
easy task: Making noise.
- Ringelmann effect, groups of
participants made more noise than
individuals, but groups failed to
reach their potential.
Motivational Loss: Social Loafing

10. - Tested alone, 9.22 dynes/cm2
In dyads, each participant
66% of capacity
Six-person groups,36%.
Motivational Loss: Social Loafing

11. - Social Loafing vs. Coordination Problems
(Participants were led to believe that either one
other participant or five other participants were
shouting with them, but in actuality, they were
working alone.)
- one other person was working , 82%
five other persons were working, 74%
Motivational Loss: Social Loafing

12. Motivational Loss: Social Loafing

13. Thank you 