1. Jon Kaplan Central Catholic High School
Peer Pressure Effects on Interpretive Conformity
Jon Kaplan
Central Catholic High School

2. Introduction
Two experiments were performed to explore peer pressure effects on interpretive conformity.
A majority of individuals directly and indirectly experience peer pressure.
New forms of peer pressure include the internet.
In a survey by Parent Further only 10% of children had not been affected by peer pressure.

3. Peer Pressure
Strong influence of a group, an individual’s peers, to behave in a certain way.
Positive and negative effects.
Pushes individuals to conform.
Affects individuals in different ways and magnitude.

4. Conformity
Behavior in accordance with socially accepted conventions or standards.
Change in behavior is in response to physical or imagined group pressure.
Peer pressure and conformity are directly related.
Herbert Kelman and Leon Mann studied different types of conformity

5. Types of Conformity Mann Kelman Normative: group pressure to fit in.
Informational: lacking knowledge, looking to the group for help.
Ingratiational: to impress or gain favor from others.
Compliance: publically changing your behavior to fit in with the group, while disagreeing.
Internalization: publically changing your behavior to fit in.
Identification: conforming to expectations of a social role.

6. Biological Bases of Conformity
Researchers tend to assume that a conformist bias is an evolved predisposition.
Recent theories suggest natural selection should favor adaptive learning strategies.
In the 1970’s researchers began to use mathematical models to create the Cultural Evolution Model.
There are also neural underpinnings of conformity.

7. Previous Studies Sherif Autokinetic Experiment (1935)
The Asch Conformity Experiment (1951)
Stanford Prison Experiment (1973)
Muzafer Sherif’s study of people conforming to the group in unclear situations.
Solomon Asch’s classic study in social psychology of normative and compliance conformity.
Phillip Zimbardo’s study of how individuals conform to an assigned role.

8. Purpose Does peer pressure effect interpretive conformity?
Do the effects of peer pressure on interpretive conformity differ between age groups?

9. Hypotheses
Null Hypothesis: Peer pressure will not significantly effect interpretive conformity outside of chance.
Alternate Hypothesis: Peer pressure will effect interpretive conformity
Alternative Hypothesis: Peer pressure effects on interpretive conformity will be greater in the Middle School subjects than that of the High School subjects.

10. Materials Subjects Pen Paper Data Collection Chart
Visual Line Judgement Test (Fig. 1)
Permission Forms
A B C
Fig. 1

11. Test Subjects Males Group 1 (Middle School): 11-12 years old
Similar Background: Educational, environmental, etc.
Group 2 (High School): years old

12. Procedure A visual line judgement test was created.
A permission slip was created and administered to the Control Group.
The Visual Judgement test was administered to the control group, with no peer pressure, and the results were recorded
A permission slip was administered to the Middle School group.
Confederates of the experiment were selected at random and instructed of their role.
The confederates were brought into the test room and placed in a specific order, allowing the test subject to answer last.
The test subject was introduced into the test room, seated so he would give his answer last.

13. Procedure (cont.)
8. The entire group, including the confederates, were given the visual line judgement test. On the first trial the confederates gave the correct answer, so as to see how the subject’s answers change. 9. The remaining 10 trials, the associates gave the incorrect answer. 10. The answers of the test subject was recorded only, due to the fact that the answer of the confederates was known to be wrong. If the test subject gave the correct answer he did not conform to the group, if he gave the wrong answer he conformed to the group. 11. Repeat steps 4-10 with the remaining 9 test subjects. 12. Repeats steps 2-10 with the High School test group. 13. Data analysis was completed. 14. Conclusions were drawn.

14. Middle School Results
Right
Right
Wrong
0 Wrong

15. Chi Squared Test
Compare expected (control) and observed (variable) results to determine significance.
𝑥 2 value compared to Alpha cut-Off Value
For this experiment: 3.84
Confidence of 0.5

16. Chi-Squared 𝑋 2 = (22−0) 0 2 + (48−70) 70 2 𝑋 2 = 6.914
Wrong Right 22 48 70
𝑋 2 = (22−0) (48−70) 70 2
Observed
Expected
𝑋 2 = 6.914
6.914 > 3.84 Significant

17. High School Results
Right
Right
Wrong
Wrong

18. Chi Squared 𝑋 2 = (23−2) 2 2 + (47−68) 68 2 𝑋 2 = 226.985
Wrong Right 23 47 2 68
𝑋 2 = (23−2) (47−68) 68 2
Observed
Expected
𝑋 2 =
> 3.84 Significant

19. Middle School vs. High School
Right
Right
Right
Right
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong

20. Chi Squared 𝑋 2 = (23−22.5) 22.5 2 + (22−22.5) 22.5 2 𝑋 2 = 0.0222
H.S M.S. 23 22
22.5
𝑋 2 = (23−22.5) (22−22.5)
Observed
𝑋 2 =
Expected
< 3.84 Not Significant

21. Conclusions
The null hypothesis was rejected for both the middle school and high school groups.
The alternative hypothesis was rejected.
It appears that peer pressure has a significant effect on interpretive conformity.

22. Limitations and Extensions
Increase size of group, more associates.
Increase the difficulty of the task.
Introduce social hierarchy into the group.
Females would be tested.
The test subjects may have believed they were being deceived by the group.
Only males were tested.
Limited age groups.

23. Sources #

24. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!
Are there any questions?