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Group consensus and judgmental accuracy: Extension of the Asch effect
Abstract
This study demonstrated the generality of the Asch group influence effect to (1) a new task employing auditory rather than visual stimuli, (2) a situation in which the bogus group was not physically present, and (3) a subject population of U. S. Army enlisted personnel.
Consensus sensory methods may be full or 'all-inclusive', determining both the attributes and intensities by consensus, or they may be individualized where panellists only determine attributes by consensus for further rating or where the attributes are determined and the group must reach consensus on the intensity of those attributes. Common to all consensus descriptive methods is the idea that individuals evaluate products and then discuss the attributes and/or intensities to determine an agreed-on description of the product in question. The consensus method can be used whenever data of a highly descriptive nature are needed. It is particularly well suited to testing where attributes are not known fully in advance, such as in the case of product development or shelf-life studies. A unique use of the consensus method is in developing 'identity profiles'. In consensus methods, panellists are encouraged to identify, reference and score new attributes during the test.
4 separate experiments on the contagion of game-playing behavior were conducted. Exp. I indicated that contagion occurred whether the game engaged in by the confederate was of high or low valence to S, that mere activity on the part of the experimental confederate did not lead to game playing, and that contagion tended toward specificity. Exp. II indicated specificity of contagion was not necessary, that contagion was not entirely due to a desire to compere in game playing. Exp. III failed to produce contagion of a low-valence game with no restraints against game playing. Exp. IV failed to produce contagion of a high-valence game with no restraints against game playing. Throughout the 4 experiments there was no relationship between contagion and Asch-type conformity. The observed contagion was mediated by reduction of restraints. The data were not adequate to specify the manner in which restraints were reduced, although several alternatives were discussed and evaluated.
This monograph reports a study of differential responses determined by social factors when the individuals face the same stimulus situation. Individuals of different cultures may react in widely different ways to the same stimulus situation; these differences are due to differences of subjective norms or frames of reference. In the range experiments the subjects estimated the extent of movement. When the objective scale was missing, the individual built up his own reference point or norm. When these individuals are later put in a group situation their points of reference converge toward a common norm. Stereotypes, fads, traditions, fashions, customs, and attitudes are psychologically cases of establishment of socially determined norms and values serving as frames of reference. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
The present study explores the possibility that tape recordings can be used to communicate to a test subject the experience that he is a participating member of a social group In this study a group frame of reference was created for the autokinetic effect solely by auditory stimulation. The reports of all "other' Ss were recorded and communicated to the critical S over headphones.