1.8: Other factors involved in the resistance of obedience

Question 1

In an experiment, researchers arranged for participants to complete a very personal and embarrassing questionnaire in a room with other people. Each participant was tested individually. The other people were confederates of the experimenter.

In condition 1: The confederates completed the questionnaire.

In condition 2: The confederates refused to complete the questionnaire and asked to leave the experiment.

The researchers tested 15 participants in condition 1, and 15 different participants in condition 1.

The researchers recorded the number of participants who completed the questionnaire in each condition.

Using your knowledge of social influence, explain the likely outcome of this experiment (3 marks)

Answer 1

More participants in condition 1 will complete the questionnaire than in condition 2, because the participants in condition 2 experienced disobedient role models and so were more likely to defy the researchers, as there would’ve been increased confidence to defy orders in condition 2