THE EFFECTS OF OPINION STRENGTH AND PEER GROUP SUPPORT UPON DISCUSSION AND OPINION CHANGE IN TWO-PERSON GROUPS

Abstract

An experiment involving 120 subjects was conducted to determine the effects of peer group support and opinion strength on opinion change following group discussion, and on the course of the discussion itself. The results indicate that subjects with strong opinions tend to initiate discussion, speak less against their own opinion, feel less pressure to change their opinion and to change their opinion less when they did change. Subjects who had less peer group support than their partner, tend to speak more against their opinion and change their opinion more than aid subjects who had more peer group support than their partner or an equal amount.