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Transcript of PsychExchange.co.uk Shared Resource
What is compliance?
The modification of behaviour in response to a direct request, even though the person
making the request has no power to enforce compliance
Arthur and John Walker: Compliance in practice
• Read pp337-338 from Horowitz and Bordens (1995)
• What do you think about Arthur’s behaviour/• How and why did he let this happen?• Can you think of any other examples where a
similar sequence of stages are used to gain compliance?
Four compliance techniques
• Foot-in-the -door• Door-in-the-face• Low-balling• The ‘that’s not all’ technique
The foot-in-the-door technique• A compliance technique whereby
a small request is made first and is then followed up with a larger one
• If asked to sign a petition first then more likely to comply when next asked to make a donation
• Freedman and Fraser (1966) p.340-341
Fraser and Freedman (1966)
• Aim:• Hypothesis:• Research method:• Design:• IV:• DV:• Possible controls:
Why it works: Self Perception Theory, Bem, (1972);
• We perceive from the first request that we are the type of person who gives help in this type of situation and our future behaviour is guided by this.
• FITD only works if the initial request is big enough to gain some sense of commitment to the cause which is attributed by the individual to dispositional (internal) factors
• Well supported by research
Why it works:Perceptual contrast hypothesis:
Cantrill and Seibold (1986)
• The first request acts as an anchor (baseline) against which subsequent requests are compared
• Second request not seen as so burdensome as first request has already ‘prepared the ground’; it doesn’t seem so great
• Not supported as well as Bem’s theory
Hornik (1988)
• The Israeli Cancer Society• Pps asked to hand out leaflets for the society• In return given a given a sticker which either:
– emphasised continued commitment to the Israeli Cancer Trust
– implied that they had fulfilled their obligation• When phoned the next week for a
contribution to the society, those in the first group were more likely to oblige!
Limitations of FITD
• Requests must be socially acceptable• Perception of the cost/benefit of both
requests– FITD didn't work well when trying to
persuade people to become blood donors (Cialdidni and Ascani, 1976)
– This said FITD has been used effectively to encourage people to become organ donors
– Why might this be so?
How can FITD be made even more effective?
• Adding interim requests (graduated commitment) can increase the likelihood of a person agreeing to a high cost request (Arthur Walker, Milgram )
Door-in-the-face technique
• A compliance technique in which a large request is made first and is then followed up by a small one
• Someone calls asking for a large donation to a charity which is likely to be refused, they then ask for a smaller donations;
• this is has proved to be far more effective than asking straight out for the same small donation.
Cialdini et al (1975)• Control Group 1: Pps were approached
and asked to escort a group of juvenile delinquents to the zoo; most refused.
• Control Group 2: Pps were approached and asked to spend 2 hours per week as a peer counsellor to juvenile delinquent children for around 2 years; again most said no
• Experimental Group (the DITF): asked to be peer counsellors and then asked to escort children to the zoo.
Results• Large request only: 0%• Small request only: 25%• Told about but not asked big request then small request made: 16.7% • DITF group: 50% compliance• Also tested whether the two requests needed to be done by the same
requester in order to achieve compliance. With two different
requesters only 10.5%,
• Also found that two equivalent requests did not improve compliance (33%)
Evaluating DITF• Many studies support its effectiveness• Evidence suggest it is more effective then FITD• Why does it work?
– The norm of reciprocity– The lion with the thorn in its foot– Help those who help you; – cultural conditioning: salesman makes concession, you feel
compelled to do the same– Regan (1971) More people bought raffle tickets from a person
who had previously bought them a soft drink than from someone who had not bought them a drink
– NoR stronger than overall liking for the person making the request
– The more concessions made, the more likely the compliance, (Goldman and Creason, 1981)
Other explanations for DITF
• Perceptual contrast hypothesis; evidence is inconclusive
• Worthy person hypothesis, (Foehl and Goldman, 1983): guilt is induced by refusing a worthy cause (most studies have made requests to give to charity etc)
“Even a penny would help”
• Cialdini and Schroeder, (1976): – Giving to American Cancer Charity increased when this
line was added to the pitch– people didn't want to appear cheap; – they were more likely to give when even very small
donations were legitimised; – they would appear very mean if they gave nothing at all– Very few actually gave a penny! The line just helped them
to make the decision to give (as opposed to not give)
Low-balling: To good to be true!
• That’s because its not!• A compliance technique in which an unreasonably
low offer is made, and when commitment is elicited, replaced with a higher offer on the pretence that the lower one could not be honoured
• Used by salespeople, who say they have to check the offer made with their manager and then get back to you saying it they have to offer a slightly higher price
The 7a.m. Start, Cialdini et al (1978)
• Control group: When asked whether they would participate in a psychology experiment that started at 7 am most Pps refused
• Experimental group: When asked whether they would participate in an psychology experiment, most Pps agreed; later they were told that it started at 7 am and given the chance to drop out if they wanted, turned up as promised.
Why does low-balling work: Commitment
• Once a commitment has been made you are likely to follow through with it even if the conditions change somewhat
• Commitment to an individual seems more important than committing to the behaviour;
• if the ‘sales-manager’ takes over the negotiating , the customer is more likely to pull out than if the original salesperson continues with the deal (Burger and Petty 1981)
Why does low-balling work: Cognitive dissonance
• having made a decision to purchase something (following the low offer), we justify the decision to ourselves; we are not just being rash because it seems like a bargain, we actually do need this item!
• If the item is then re-offered at a higher price, we will experience a uncomfortable state called cognitive dissonance if we then decide to pull out (suggesting that we did only want the item because it was a bargain)
• We are more likely to continue with the deal, making our behaviour consistent with our attitude (we really do need this item)
The ‘That’s not all’ technique
• A compliance technique in which extras are added to an initial offer, often as apparently spontaneous gestures of generosity
• Burger (1986) Field experiment– 2 Experimenters manned a cupcake stall at a cake sale– cupcakes were displayed without a price– When Pps asked how much a cupcakes were they were either
told:• “75cents and you get two free cookies” (40% bought cakes)• or... “75cents “ and then the second experimenter whispered
something to the first who then said, “and you get two free cookies” (73% bought the cakes)
Why does the TNA work?
• Norm of reciprocity but only if you perceive the salesperson’s concessions to be voluntary/spontaneous
• Perceptual contrast – initial offer (the cake) acts as an anchor/baseline, against which we compare the second offer (cupcake plus cookies) which suddenly seems much more impressive
Which method is most effective
• DITF is more effective than FITD (Brownstein et al 1976)
• Combined FITD and DITF work better than either one their own (Goldstein, 1986)
• Low-balling may be more effective than either FITD or DITF (Brownstein and Katvez (1985)– Pps asked to donate to a museum fund under four
conditions FITD, DITF, LW, control): LB was most effective; the others were all similar