__THE ACTORS__
MARE — me
BO — guy in class
PROF — the professor
__BACK-STORY__
The Intro Psychology class that I am in was required (1/4 of the grade)to run a lab. The syllabus states:
As a class, we will determine a research question, formulate hypotheses, design a research method, carry out the research plan, analyze the data we have collected, and write-up the results. You will work in teams to complete this project. More details about the content and methodology will become available as the class develops.
Erk.
So, we did. We came up with an idea, put together a plan with teams to carry it out. Last Sunday we went to Zilker park to run the actual experiment portion – we figured that we would have plenty of people around willing to participate out there. It was hot, difficult and time consuming but, it is done. That portion anyway.
About 7 people showed up out of a class of 16. Not bad – almost half – including the PROF.
Now all we have left to do is take the data that we gathered and analyze it then write up a paper on the findings. I figure we would get one of the people who have YET to participate in any part of this lab to help out. I have already done preliminary sort/analyze work on the data.
__THE SCENE__
A small classroom in a portable building. It is about 43 degrees in the room because the giant A/C unit is set to 86.*
BO enters the classroom and spies MARE.
BO: Hi! What’d I miss?
MARE: ….
BO: Soo…ummm… Is there anything that I need to do for the lab?
MARE: Why, yes. Since you asked. Here (puts stack of data on BO’s desk) This needs to get analyzed. In fact, if you analyze it and can email me the results by this weekend then I can do the final write up.
BO: Sure!
MARE: I’m glad that you are going to help.
BO: Why I would never be a social loafer!** Hahahahaha!
MARE: ….mmhmmm. Well like I said, its very important that you get that data analyzed and to me. It affects everyone’s grades because if we don’t turn this in everybody fails.
BO: No problem. I just need to know how to analyze it.
PROF: (overhearing) I can help with that. If you can stay after class, I would be glad to show you how.
MARE & BO: (relieved) Sounds great!
MARE: (returns to her desk)
BO: (returns to his desk)
-class commences-
-later, as class is starting to come to a close-
MARE: (looks over to BO to give a smile and thumbs up)
BO: (not there…snuck out of class earlier)
MARE: 9__9
*
– seriously, it is like they are manufactured by the same people who do hotel A/Cs. Noisy and only two settings – Arctic Circle and Hatching Baby Chicks.
**
– we did a lecture on social loafing right before we started the lab. I think the PROF was trying to say something.
The Process 
I know what the prof said about it being a group grade project, but srsly…if Bo does a crap job of analyzing (or doesn’t do it) and the prof saw that you did your part, he’s not going to fail you. No freaking out allowed.
Besides, we your friends can give Bo a motivation that he cannot refuse. Just point.
. . .
I am a bad, bad person. My initial response was, You are not allowed to use anything larger than a soda can on him.
And part of the grade is to work cohesively as a team.
So regardless of what the prof knows and is going to grade, I am *still* freaked out. Less so than I would have been if he hadn’t seen the rest of us busting our asses. But, still.
I don’t suppose there’s such a thing on this project as group assessments? That always made me feel better about someone’s lack of participation in the project if I could tell the professor exactly how much the person didn’t do.
I realize this doesn’t necessarily help on the group cohesiveness thing. I can’t believe that this is part of the grade. That’s just annoying. Is your prof doing their own experiment on social loafing or something?!?
I am starting to wonder that very thing.
I wouldn’t put it past them, BonBon.
It is one of the questions that I am going to ask him on Monday (last day of class).
“Hi, Mr. Professor. Soo…you been running any labs on the class that I should know about?”
I doubt that he’s doing a formal experiment because you would have had to sign something agreeing to it, as far as I know. But he might have decided to entertain himself. 😉
There are an awful lot of things no bigger than a soda can that can be used to do an awful lot of stuff.
Just sayin’.
ugh.
Do you have contact info for Bo & Prof?
I’d probably email them first with best wishes on the analysis and reiterating the deadline info, then later with a “gee, I haven’t seen your analysis yet” and finally with a “I regret that our team was unable to complete the assignment due to Bo’s failure to complete the analysis.”