The Effect of Group Pressure on Hypothesis Testing: Psychological Desire or Logical Rules?

This study aimed to assess the effect of group pressure on hypothesis testing. To do so, a hundred and three participants (Control: n=51 and Experimental: n=52) were randomly selected from among undergraduate students. All participants were tested using the stipulated version of Wason Selection Task (Lotfi and Zare, 1388) and some informative items for Group Pressure. Data were analyzed using Chi-Square Goodness-of-Fit Test and crosstabs statistics. The results of the study indicated that: (1) In response to the situation for the critical test of hypothesis, most participants tended to choose either unrelated or correct responses. (2) Participants were not significantly different in terms of their psychological desire to keep the initial hypothesis, the choice for the correct response, and the choice for the wrong response. (3) When confronted to a situation which directly challenges their psychological desires, subjects tended to resist against group pressure. Findings in the present study are discussed by the methodological theory of binary explanation of social behavior, as well as psychosocial and cognitive components.