Task Content and Sex Differences in Conformity

Abstract
Sex-type of task content and influence source were manipulated to produce varying amounts of conformity according to the sex of S. Pilot data from 98 university students aided in the construction of sex-related questionnaire items. The group situation involved 62 volunteer confederates in varying combinations of same sex, three person groups to exert Asch-type pressure on 48 Ss. An additional 74 Ss participated in a nongroup situation in which questionnaires were answered without benefit of feedback from other respondents. A 3 × 3 × 2 mixed factorial design was used with (a) sex-type of group, (b) sex-relatedness of items, and (c) sex of S as factors considered. Amount of conformity was found to be related to sex-type of influence source, sex-relatedness of items, and sex of S. Variance in conformity was explained in terms of S's perceived relative competence of himself and the group.

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