The hypothesis will be non-directional because previous research has shown that the direction of the outcome cannot be predicted.
Variables:
Independent Variable: The gender of the participants.
Dependent Variable: The conformity levels recorded.
Methodology:
This experiment was carried out using a laboratory method. This method was appropriate because it is easier to isolate the variables and it also makes controlling variable easier too thus increasing internal validity.
Materials Used:
The materials used were samples of images that would be used for the participants to rate how ‘disgusting’ they thought the pictures was. Examples of the images of the ‘disgusting’ pictures used in the slide show can be seen in appendix A. An interactive whiteboard screen was also used so that the participants are able to get a view of the images being used. Furthermore we used the internet from the computer to find the images to use on the participants.
Procedure:
We began by conducting a pilot study; here we began searching on the internet of images people would most likely think to be seen as disgusting. The pictures to use in the investigation was confirmed by asking random people (who were from the same age group we would use in the investigation) to rate which of the pictures (e.g. infected foot, spider, maggots) were disgusting to not so disgusting. Once they finished rating the pictures we then chose 10 images that they chose to be disgusting. 20 male participants and 20 female participants from aged 16-18 were used in the investigation. The male and female participants were separated into two different rooms to measure the levels of conformity. Two experimenters stayed with the female participants whilst the other two stayed with the male participants. Twelve confederates for both male and female groups for our study. Afterwards the participants were called in randomly three at a time. The first, second, third and fourth group of three were told the true purpose of the experiment and that they needed to be confederates for the study. The confederate’s role was to give an opposite view to the expected response to each of the images shown to see if this would have any effect on the non-confederates. When the last 8 participants were called in they were unaware of the true purpose of the experiment and instead were told that it was a study of gender differences of disgust levels of the pictures we were about to show them (rather than the conformity levels). Before starting the experiment all the participants were told they had a right to withdraw at any time. A copy of this script can be seen in appendix B. The participants were then shown images through a slide-show, with one experimenter controlling the slide-show and asking the participants for their opinions. The other experimenter discreetly recorded the raw data (records of their responses) by noting down how many of the minority participants conformed to the majority when discussing whether or not the pictures were disgusting. After finishing the experiment, the confederates were told to leave so that we were able to debrief the non-confederates. The non-confederates were told that they were part of an experiment to investigate the levels of majority influence between males and females. We also asked the participants whether or not they were truly influenced by the majority’s opinion when making their opinion on the images. All 4 experimenters came together afterwards to compare the level of majority influences between male and females.
Ethical Concerns:
Before doing the experiment, there were ethical considerations that we took, such as:
- Making sure that the participants that we selected to act as the minority group were debriefed after the experiment was done for they wouldn’t be fully informed on the true nature of the experiment at the start.
- However since the minority of the participants do not know that they are taking part in the experiment and do not know the full meaning of the experiment, deception will be taking place. This is needed in order to carry out the investigation.
- Also we took into account of the fact that parental consent will not be needed because all our participants taking part in our investigation are over 16 years of age.
- Most importantly, all results collected from participants will be kept confidential, furthermore all the participants have a right to withdraw at any time if they feel any what uncomfortable.
Results:
The results will be analysed using Pearson’s chi square inferential statistical test. This is suitable for the data in this investigation because:
- It measures the relationship between 2 conditions, in which our case was the level of conformity between males and females.
- We used nominal data
- We used a independent group design
Graph of Results:
The results of the experiment can be seen in the graph:
This graph represents the levels of conformity between male and females and shows the amount of times conformity took place. The females conformed 46 times in the experiment whilst the males only conformed 16 times. This graph shows that the females conformed more than males and also that my hypothesis was right since there was a significant difference between male and female conformity levels.
The raw data can be found in appendix C.
Findings of the Statistical Test:
Following a statistical analysis of the data, it was found that the value of X2 = 23.7 (p< 0.01, df =1). So the experiment hypothesis is accepted, so we can conclude that 16-18 year old females conform to majority more than males.
Discussion:
Explanations of Findings:
A possible reason why the females conformed more than the males could be to do with pressures with modern society. Or women having a low self-esteem and/or low confidence in themselves, so they may feel as if to conform is ways of making themselves feel better. This could be due to social roles where women are taught to be passive whereas men are taught to be independent and have a ‘leader like’ quality in themselves. This may be the case in our investigation for all of the 8 female participants confessed to feeling influenced by the majority, whereas only 2 of the male participants felt the urge to conform. The other of the 6 male participants claimed that the majority’s influence did not affect them in any way. This could show that males feel less pressured to conform in this modern day society for they do not fear of being judged by other so therefore have more confidence in the decisions that they make. Also conforming could be seen as a way of losing their independence (which goes against their social roles).
Theories Related to Investigation:
Possible reasons for this finding supporting the hypothesis are that:
- One of the gender roles feels as if they have to conform more, maybe in order to feel accepted and not feel like the odd one out if they did not conform.
- Maybe to do with one gender role being more independent on themselves, rather than feeling the need to depend on others all the time. This could be to do with the way people are brought up in society, certain people may have had to rely less on others whilst growing up. So relying on others at times may be an embarrassing experience for them since they are used to doing everything for themselves.
The present findings support the findings of the research by Zimbardo and Leippe (1991) who found that there is a tendency for men to conform less than women. They concluded that this is because men are likely to see independence as a way of expressing their competence, while women tend to see co-operation and agreement with others. This finding supports ours because we found that more females conformed then the males in our study. Also Zimbardo and Leippe’s conclusion could explain the reason why the conformity levels for males was lower than that for females in our study. Also Zimbardo and Leippe found that men with low self –esteem tend to conform more often than those who are self-assured. This other finding can be used to explain the minority of males who actually conformed in our investigation.
However, they contradict the findings of research done by Maslach et al. (1987) who found out that men and women conform equally according to their gender qualities, such as women with masculine qualities and men to feminine qualities. They also found that men with personal qualities and interests that are stereotypically ‘feminine’ conform as much as women to these same qualities and interests. This can be referred back to our study when for when we debriefed the non-confederates 2 of the male participants confessed they conformed because they felt they were being influenced by the other male participants. The reason for this may be due to Maslach’s finding that males with stereotypically ‘feminine’ traits conform more. Conversely, women and men with stereotypically ‘masculine’ qualities and interests conform less. This finding can be used to explain the low level of conformity with the males. Only 2 out of the 8 stooges conformed whilst the other 6 male participants said that the majority didn’t affect their opinions, this could be due to them having the stereotypical ‘masculine’ quality and them wanting to be an individual. However these conclusions don’t go with the female results because they all admitted to conforming. These findings are different to Zimbardo and Leippe’s study, this may have happened because of the fact that Zimbardo and Leippe failed to consider the different personality traits of men and women. Although a part of Maslach et al.’s findings did not contradict Zimbardo and Leippe’s study, which was that,
‘...women and men with stereotypically ‘masculine’ qualities and interests conform less.’
Our findings were different to the studies I mentioned earlier may have been because our study was done in a classroom in a suburban inner-city area. Whilst their studies were done quite a while ago. Also there has been no research found of the type of experiment we did, this could be the reason for the different findings. Furthermore people’s attitudes to things are from what it was 20 years ago.
Limitations and Modifications:
One of the limitations of this investigation was that the participants we used were aged 16-18 years old. This means that it is hard to generalize our findings to the whole population; this shows that the study has low population validity. To increase the population validity of the study would be to get a sample of participants from various age groups. Once we have done this, it will then be easier to generalize the results to the whole population.
In addition another limitation would be perhaps the way in which the participants were positioned in order to give out their answers. This may have increased conformity within the group for they may have felt pressured to go along with the majority. In order to eliminate the problem, we could recreate Crutchfield’s (1955) study where the participants cannot see each other. Also their responses will be recorded in private by them writing down the answers instead of calling them out. By writing down the answers this could make the conformity results fairer, since the participants would not know what everyone else is writing, so they will feel less embarrassed when giving out their opinions. Furthermore by doing this method we could differentiate between 2 types of conformity, these are:
- Compliance – just being conformist outwardly (temporary change)
- Conversion – truly changing people’s minds ( permanent mind)
Another limitation of the investigation would be the fact that no control groups were used. If control groups were used, this would involve them judging and discussing the images without any majority influence involved. Also they could have been compared with the experimental group and the results of both groups can be compared and contrasted with. In order to eliminate the problem we could have used a female control group and a male control group.
Implications and Further Research:
The implications of this investigation are important because it shows the different conformity between genders. Also it suggests that one gender group conforms more than the other. This goes well with Zimbardo and Leippe’s study (1991) who stated that men conform less than women; this finding went well with the results we got. Also that men may conform less in order to feel more independent, whilst women may conform more due to them wanting to feel more accepted. This again goes with Zimbardo and Leippe’s study.
Further research in conformity within males and females could focus on how gender roles vary with ages, because different ages were not a variable in the present study. This could be further research I can focus on since we failed to take different ages into account. Also by doing this we would be able to see whether or not we would get the same levels of conformity as before. Most importantly it will increase the population validity of the study. Also we could use a larger number of participants to increase the population validity, although it may take too long to find a larger sample of participants. In addition participants would be required to write down their answers instead of calling them out, by doing this, this will make the levels of majority influence different from our previous research. Further research could also involve setting the participants in a different environment. By doing this, this will enable me to see whether or not different environments can affect the levels of majority influence between both genders.
A possible hypothesis for this further research could be:
‘A certain fixed age group will have a higher level of conformity then the other.’
References:
Gross, R (1966) Psychology Science of Mind and Behaviour, Hodder and Stouton Condon
Cardwell, M; Clark, L; Meldrum, C (2003) Psychology for AS-level, Harper Collins Publishers
Cardwell, M; Clark, L; Meldrum, C (2004) Psychology for A2 level, Harper Collins Publishers
Haralabos, M; Holborn, M; Heald, R (2000) Sociology: Theories and Perspectives, London Collins
