Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the mechanism of group polarization phenomenon from a social comparison view point. Specifically, this study was conducted in order to examine whether opinion comparisons based on ability comparisons were significantly related to the mechanism of polarization phenomenon.
Subjects were 125 female undergraduate students, and were randomly assigned to one of four conditions.
Conditions: 1) where subjects refer to target persons having higher ability than theirs (H condition), 2) where subjects refer to target persons having similar ability to theirs (M condition), 3) where subjects refer to target persons having less ability than theirs (L condition), 4) control condition.
Subjects in the experimental conditions were exposed to opinions elicited and averaged from target persons in the above 3 conditions, and CDQ (Choice Dilmma Questionnaire) were used as task materials. Because the differences between M condition and L condition in ability were not significant, subjects in H, M, and control conditions were used for analysis.
The following results were obtained:
1) An opinion change towards risk (i. e. polarization) was more prevalent in the M condition than in the H condition, but this tendency could not be absolutely confirmed.
2) The positions of subjects' pre-test attitudes tended to influence the extent of polarization.
3) Comparison with others' opinions in itself occured in the H condition more than in the M condion, that is, a tendency was shown against opinion change.
4) With more opinion change more confidence in the subjects' opinions was shown, that is, the more the extent of polarization, the more the intensity of polarization. These results suggested that opinion comparisons based on ability comparisons could be related to the mechanism of group polarization phenomenon.
