Real competence and conformity in a compound stimuli paired-associate learning situation

University of IIlinois served as experimental Ss. MATERIALS AND APPARATUS Two compound-stimuli paired-associates Iists were constructed. The stimuli for each item consisted of a color that appeared in ROBI:RT S. SOBEI., University 0/ llIinois, it is not manipulated by the E. Since Ss the upper left-hand corner of each slide have a written record of their accuracy on and a three-Ietter word that appeared in Urbana, Ill. 61801 the paired-associates test trial, their the lower left-hand corner of each slide. Subjec!s' cI/Oice of stimulus type in a perception of their real competence Each response was a three-Ietter word and paireu-assvciates learning task was either accurately reflects performance. If we appeared in the center of the right-hand Uliallilllollsll' opposed by two confederates assurne that Ss have internal standards of portion of each slide. Each item was or lVas upposed by one and supported by success and failure, it seems reasonable to constructed so that associations between the other. In leaming a sec(md list, hypothesize that Ss who subjectively each stimulus and the response could be signijicantly more Ss switched stimulus experience success will be less susceptible easily formed. For example, the stimuli of types in fhe ullanimuus opposition to social influence than Ss who experience one slide included the color "black" and condition. The relationship between real subjective failure. Thus, direct evidence of the word "pop," while the response competence and conformit)' did not reach relative competence may not be a consisted of the word "eye." Note that sign ifican ce, buth when cumpetence was necessary precondition to conformity holh SR comhinations (black-eyt: amI divided at the median Sand at the extreme differences due to real competence. pop-eye) ~r.:: easy tu fOlm anJ should quarfiles. alfhough all tests were in the In addition, conformity involves more exhibit high retention percentages. preuicfed direction. By auministering than verbal agreement with the group Also, rt!sponse test lists were response tests af a subseqllenf sessiun, it decision. It is manifested by a change in cunslrucled. Each list containcd a was uiscovered thaf fhe pril'ate attituues of the S's task-relevant behaviors. In addition randomized order of responses from the Ss co"esponueu to fheir pllb/ic attitudes. to lessening E-induced demand originallislS. EXPERIMENT AL GROUP characteristics, this type of paradigm Strategy 01 First Session Research has invariably indicated that allows an examination of a wide range of The pro-:edUles employed in this session perceived competence is negatively related competence. Furthermore, the utilization to conforming behavior. This relationship of compound stimuli provides a ready were d,::slgneJ to (I) establish the Ss' has been found for several experimental method for differentiating between public plefelenc~ f"r dther words or calors as a tasks, including tachistoscopic conformity and private conformity. sti::mlus type to be used in learning a nonsense-syllable presentation (Samelson, Although the significance of such a paired-associates list, (2) have other group 1957), case history predictions differentiation has long been recognized, members unanimously oppose the Ss' (Hochbaum, 1954), attitude items the experimental methods employed have preference, an!! (3) provide the S with the (DiVesta, 1959), objective stimuli either measured the private response in a opportunity to change Ws stimulus type (Rosen berg, 1963), and the autokinetic postexperimental setting or elicited the preference for a second list (private public and private responses conformity) and/or his verbal statement of effect (KeIman, 1950). In these studies, perceived competence simuItaneously during the experiment. The preference (public conformity). If the S relative to other group members was former method ignores cognitive influences chooses to conform publicly but not induced by E communications; Ss were during the postexperimental time interval privately (Le., if he continues to use the told that they were either more or less and the latter ignores the dissonance stimulus type he used on the first list but competent than other group members. This created by emitting contradictory publicly expresses a change in preference that conforms to the judgment of the other type of design introduces a demand responses in rapid succession. The present study creates a situation in group members), he has no reason to characteristic that may affect the experimental outcome. When the E teils a which the S can indicate oral agreement believe that this private nonconformity can S that he is more able than his associates, with his associates (public conformity) be detected either by the E or the other the S may interpret this communication to while privately behaving in a fashion that group members. In the same way, an indicate that the E expects him to be deviates from the preferences of his individual who publicly conforms to group independent. And when the S is told he is associates (private nonconformity). This opinion while privately maintaining an less competent, he may interpret the behavior, indicative of the private attitude, unpopular belief has no reason to believe message to indicate that the E believes he may be measured in a postexperimental that group members can detect his private should conform. In addition, the session with virtually no effect from nonconformity. First Session Procedures generalizability of these resuIts is weakened in tervening cognitive influences. Three-person groups, consisting of one S because, with the exception of Hollander Furthermore, the S has no reason to (1960), only the extremes along the believe that his associates or the E can and two paid confederates, were seated in competence con tinuum have been detect the fact that he is behaving in a three chairs facing a wall. The confederates noncompliant fashion. took the seats to the right and center, thus manipula ted. The aim of the study, then, is to forcing the S to take the seat on the left. While previous studies have dealt with perceived relative competence induced determine the relationship between real The group was told that running three Ss at through E communications, the present competence and the incidence of public the same time was an economically paper is concerned with the relationship and private conformity in a advantageous procedure. between real competence and conformity paired-associate learning situation. The E explained the compound-stimuli in a compound-stimuli paired-associates paired-associates learning procedure to be SUBJECTS situation. Using this procedure, used (RT technique) and told the group Fifty male students enrolled in the that each member was to choose the competence is a function of the individual's perception of his performance; introductory psychology class at the stimulus type (word or colors) he thought Real competence and conformity in a cOl (...truncated)