Citation

Sweeney JW. Soc. Sci. Res. 1973; 2(3): 277-292.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1973, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0049-089X(73)90004-5

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to test propositions drawn from a theory of rational decision-making propounded by Mancur Olson in The Logic of Collective Action. From Olson's theory it was hypothesized that: (1) Given only a public good to be achieved, the contributions from individuals in an operational equivalent of a large group will be smaller than the contributions from individuals in a small group. (2) Given that certain individuals' actions are not effective toward obtaining a public good, the contributions from those individuals in a condition in which a private good is also provided-but made contingent upon the individuals making a contribution to the public good-will be larger than the contribution from those individuals in a condition in which no private good is provided. Because Olson's theory presumes an informational input from a group context, two propositions regarding reference groups and individuals were also tested: (3) Individuals will contribute less toward a group goal when their actions are anonymous than when their performances are reviewed by a reference person. (4) Individuals who perceive that many of the members of their reference group are making large contributions toward a group goal will themselves make larger contributions than individuals who perceive that many of their reference group are making small contributions, ceteris paribus. (This last proposition is potentially inconsistent with Olson's theory.) The results of the experiment support propositions (1) and (2) and partially support proposition (3) but the results do not support proposition (4).

The experiment demonstrates that the so-called free-rider phenomenon may be produced in the laboratory under controlled conditions and also that the extent of the phenomenon may be varied under laboratory conditions. Further the experiment suggests that the amount of contributions which group members are willing to make may be only indirectly affected by the size of the group through the medium of "perceived effectiveness" of an individual's contributory efforts.