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An Experimental Study of Conformity
Behavior as a Small Group Phenomenon
Feldman, R.A.
Small Group Behavior, 5.4 (1974) 404-426
Purpose:
Apply new research design to analyze conformity
behavior of subjects in small groups who
have lived together and developed a broad
set of shared norms.
Sample:
538 boys and girls, ages 9-16 (61 cabin
groups) attending four different summer
camps for Jewish children.
Methods/Instruments:
- Normative integration index for groups.
Consists of 20 normative behaviors.
- Experimenter presents two multiple choice
questions to the subjects in group setting.
The respondent is given an answer sheet
to circle the answer and provide his/her
name. The subjects are not allowed to
speak to one another. The experimenter
then tabulates the responses and presents
the two answers that received no votes
as the two that were given most often
and indicates that all but one of the
respondents chose between the two answers.
The subjects are then given another answer
sheet and allowed to change their answer
to one of the top two or leave it as is.
Subjects are also told that their individual
answers will be revealed to everyone at
the end of the session. Subjects were
identified as conforming if s/he changed
his/her answer to one of the two "popular"
choices in both instances.
- Analysis: Multiple classification analysis.
Results:
- Small groups (6-8 members) have higher
conformity scores than larger groups (9-12
members).
- Time spent together or social class
is not associated with normative integration.
- Proportions of conformers in groups
was observed to be positively associated
with group normative integration, however,
this finding is not statistically significant.
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