Within the faculty of BMS all programmes have several units of study and modules containing group work. The phenomenon of free-riding behaviour is one of the most negatively side effects of group work. Students finish their units of study or modules by benefiting from someone else’s efforts, in many cases other project group members or fellow students. This behaviour is not desirable and not accepted in an academic environment.
WHAT IS FREE-RIDING BEHAVIOUR?
The definition of free-riding behaviour: a student benefits from someone else’s efforts and by doing that, delivers none or a minimal contribution to an assignment that has to be executed by the project group. This student will gain from the positive grading of the group assignment with a low contribution. The contribution in this matter can be knowledge, skills or effort.
TIPS TO PREVENT FREE-RIDING BEHAVIOUR
The examiner can prevent this behaviour in several ways. For example:
- Providing transparent assignments (on complexity, interesting subjects and in challenging ways);
- Providing assignments where the desired achievements are stated (including the distribution of the tasks that have to be done);
- Providing an individual part within the assignment which will be graded individually (for example a peer assessment in which students judge each other on specific subjects or a reflection report);
- Warn students in advance that if there are reasons to deviate from a group result grading, individual grading will be possible;
- During the process the project groups should on a regular basis discuss the group process
Possible consequences
Possible consequences for the student can be:
- Give a lower grade than the other group members
- Report the behaviour to the examination board
- Give the student a new or complementary assignment