Group Size, Gender, and Obedience Michela Jones, Karla Roberts, and Russalyn Spicer Hanover College Fall 2005

Introduction Milgram (1964) example Milgram (1964) example Obedience every day Obedience every day –Traffic signs

Previous Research Asch (1955) Asch (1955) –Increases up to 3-4 –Levels off Gerard (1968) Gerard (1968) –Linear increase

Research Question and Hypothesis Research Question Research Question –Does the size of a group affect obedience to authority? Hypothesis Hypothesis –Groups of 3-4 students will be more likely to obey authority than any smaller sized group. –After 3-4 members are in a group, we expect the level of obedience to stay the same.

Hypothesis Rationale Why obedience increases Why obedience increases –Conformity in a group –Railroad track analogy –Not unreasonable Why obedience levels off Why obedience levels off –Concealment in larger group

Participants Small, Midwestern liberal arts college Small, Midwestern liberal arts college 55 college students 55 college students –Approximately aged % female 73% female

Please remove your shoes before entering the lobby. You may put them back on upon exiting the lobby.

Procedure Signs in the lobby Signs in the lobby Location of observers Location of observers Recorded: Recorded: –Group size –Gender –Casual or formal dress –Obedience

Figure 1. Rate of obedience by group size. p =.987

Limitations and Further Research Location Location –Carpet –Traffic flow Number of participants Number of participants –Greater number Group size Group size –Greater variety More control More control

Implications Implications Implications –No significance to be found –Signs are information Used by authorities Used by authorities