Impacts of Authority and Unanimity on Social Conformity in Online Chats about Climate Change

Background The purpose of this study was to examine whether two variables of persuasive communication, authority and unanimity, induce social conformity when people communicate over digital social media without knowing each other. Analysis Data collection was based on a mixed methodology. In all, 26...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inCanadian journal of communication Vol. 43; no. 2; pp. 265 - 279
Main Authors Farmer, Yanick, Bissière, Mehlia, Benkirane, Amina
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Toronto University of Toronto Press 01.01.2018
Subjects
Audiences
Climate change
Communication
Computer mediated communication
Computers
Conformity
Consent
Data collection
Digital media
Ethics
Experiments
Groups
Interpersonal communication
Lea, Martin
Milgram, Stanley (1933-1984)
Persuasion
Psychologists
Public relations
Social networks
Social psychology
Studies
Theory
Virtual communities
Web 2.0
United States > US
Online AccessGet full text
ISSN0705-3657
1499-6642
DOI10.22230/cjc.2018v43n2a3206

Cover

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to examine whether two variables of persuasive communication, authority and unanimity, induce social conformity when people communicate over digital social media without knowing each other. Analysis Data collection was based on a mixed methodology. In all, 26 subjects were tested ( N = 26). Conclusions and implications The research showed that the tendency of conforming to groups is maintained in online communications. However, the level of such conformity is not as high as the level that prevails in face-to-face communication.
AbstractList The purpose of this study was to examine whether two variables of persuasive communication, authority and unanimity, induce social conformity when people communicate over digital social media without knowing each other. Data collection was based on a mixed methodology. In all, 26 subjects were tested (N = 26). The research showed that the tendency of conforming to groups is maintained in online communications. However, the level of such conformity is not as high as the level that prevails in face-to-face communication.
Background The purpose of this study was to examine whether two variables of persuasive communication, authority and unanimity, induce social conformity when people communicate over digital social media without knowing each other. Analysis Data collection was based on a mixed methodology. In all, 26 subjects were tested ( N = 26). Conclusions and implications The research showed that the tendency of conforming to groups is maintained in online communications. However, the level of such conformity is not as high as the level that prevails in face-to-face communication.
Author Farmer, Yanick
Benkirane, Amina
Bissière, Mehlia
Author_xml – sequence: 1
  givenname: Yanick
  surname: Farmer
  fullname: Farmer, Yanick
– sequence: 2
  givenname: Mehlia
  surname: Bissière
  fullname: Bissière, Mehlia
– sequence: 3
  givenname: Amina
  surname: Benkirane
  fullname: Benkirane, Amina
BookMark eNp9kEtLAzEUhYNUsK3-AjcB11PznGmWZfBRKHSh3QnDnUxiU6ZJzWSE_nvH1o0uXF3u4Xz3cs4EjXzwBqFbSmaMMU7u9U7PGKHzT8E9A85IfoHGVCiV5blgIzQmBZEZz2VxhSZdtyOEiLyYj9Hbcn8AnTocLF70aRuiS0cMvsEbD97tv7fg8UvQDlpcBm9DPInO47VvnTe43MLAQx36hMvW7SGdNP9urtGlhbYzNz9zijaPD6_lc7ZaPy3LxSrTnLGUNZBDTgSzrOZKWcKAMQogDGFUFiCV5nNd10Qqo0GKxtKGFpLWwlo5N0XBp-jufPcQw0dvulTtQh_98LJiRArKFadycKmzS8fQddHYSrsEyQWfIri2oqQ6lVkNZVa_yxxY_oc9xCFpPP5LfQFNvnuB
CitedBy_id crossref_primary_10_1016_j_ijinfomgt_2021_102312
Cites_doi 10.1111/j.1467-6494.1977.tb00150.x
10.1037//0033-2909.119.1.111
10.1016/j.chb.2006.02.009
10.1145/1401890.1401914
10.4000/communiquer.546
10.1111/j.1468-2958.2002.tb00812.x
10.1016/0747-5632(88)90003-9
10.1037/h0046408
10.1080/13691180110097030
10.3917/cnx.095.0099
10.1016/j.chb.2012.03.023
10.7312/bere93630
10.1016/0022-1031(83)90027-6
10.1111/j.1467-6494.1956.tb01292.x
10.1080/01449290410001723472
10.1037//0022-3514.71.5.915
10.1111/b.9781405106542.2002.00010.x
10.5130/pcr.v1i2.1867
10.1080/00224545.1961.9922108
10.1111/j.2044-8309.1985.tb00660.x
10.1038/scientificamerican1155-31
10.1177/002200275800200106
10.1037/h0040525
ContentType Journal Article
Copyright Copyright Canadian Journal of Communications Corporation 2018
Copyright_xml – notice: Copyright Canadian Journal of Communications Corporation 2018
DBID AAYXX
CITATION
0-V
3V.
7WY
7WZ
7XB
87Z
88J
8FE
8FG
8FK
8FL
8FQ
8FV
ABUWG
AFKRA
AIMQZ
ALSLI
ARAPS
AZQEC
BENPR
BEZIV
BGLVJ
CCPQU
DWQXO
FRNLG
F~G
GNUQQ
HCIFZ
HEHIP
K60
K6~
L.-
LIQON
M0C
M2R
M2S
M3G
P5Z
P62
PHGZM
PHGZT
PKEHL
PMKZF
POGQB
PQBIZ
PQBZA
PQEST
PQGLB
PQQKQ
PQUKI
PRQQA
Q9U
DOI 10.22230/cjc.2018v43n2a3206
DatabaseName CrossRef
ProQuest Social Sciences Premium Collection【Remote access available】
ProQuest Central (Corporate)
ABI/INFORM Collection
ABI/INFORM Global (PDF only)
ProQuest Central (purchase pre-March 2016)
ABI/INFORM Collection
Social Science Database (Alumni Edition)
ProQuest SciTech Collection
ProQuest Technology Collection
ProQuest Central (Alumni) (purchase pre-March 2016)
ABI/INFORM Collection (Alumni)
Canadian Business & Current Affairs
Canadian Business & Current Affairs Database (Alumni)
ProQuest Central (Alumni)
ProQuest Central UK/Ireland
ProQuest One Literature
Social Science Premium Collection
Advanced Technologies & Aerospace Collection
ProQuest Central Essentials
ProQuest Central
Business Premium Collection
Technology collection
ProQuest One
ProQuest Central
Business Premium Collection (Alumni)
ABI/INFORM Global (Corporate)
ProQuest Central Student
SciTech Premium Collection
Sociology Collection (OCUL)
ProQuest Business Collection (Alumni Edition)
ProQuest Business Collection
ABI/INFORM Professional Advanced
ProQuest One Literature (OCUL)
ABI/INFORM Global
ProQuest Social Science Database (NC LIVE)
Sociology Database (OCUL)
CBCA Reference & Current Events
ProQuest Advanced Technologies & Aerospace Database (NC LIVE)
ProQuest Advanced Technologies & Aerospace Collection
ProQuest Central Premium
ProQuest One Academic (New)
ProQuest One Academic Middle East (New)
ProQuest Digital Collections
ProQuest Sociology & Social Sciences Collection
ProQuest One Business
ProQuest One Business (Alumni)
ProQuest One Academic Eastern Edition (DO NOT USE)
ProQuest One Applied & Life Sciences
ProQuest One Academic
ProQuest One Academic UKI Edition
ProQuest One Social Sciences
ProQuest Central Basic
DatabaseTitle CrossRef
ProQuest Business Collection (Alumni Edition)
ProQuest Central Student
ProQuest Advanced Technologies & Aerospace Collection
ProQuest Central Essentials
SciTech Premium Collection
Sociology & Social Sciences Collection
ABI/INFORM Complete
CBCA Complete (Alumni Edition)
ProQuest One Applied & Life Sciences
ProQuest Central (New)
ProQuest Sociology
Advanced Technologies & Aerospace Collection
Business Premium Collection
Social Science Premium Collection
ABI/INFORM Global
ProQuest One Literature
ProQuest One Academic Eastern Edition
ProQuest Technology Collection
Sociology Collection
ProQuest Business Collection
ProQuest Social Science Journals
ProQuest Social Sciences Premium Collection
ProQuest One Academic UKI Edition
ProQuest One Academic
ProQuest One Academic (New)
ABI/INFORM Global (Corporate)
ProQuest One Business
ProQuest Sociology & Social Sciences Collection
Technology Collection
ProQuest One Academic Middle East (New)
ProQuest Social Science Journals (Alumni Edition)
ProQuest Central (Alumni Edition)
ProQuest One Community College
ProQuest Central
ABI/INFORM Professional Advanced
ProQuest Central Korea
CBCA Complete
ProQuest Sociology Collection
ABI/INFORM Complete (Alumni Edition)
ProQuest One Literature - U.S. Customers Only
ProQuest One Social Sciences
ABI/INFORM Global (Alumni Edition)
ProQuest Central Basic
CBCA Reference & Current Events
ProQuest SciTech Collection
ProQuest Digital Collections
Advanced Technologies & Aerospace Database
ProQuest One Business (Alumni)
ProQuest Central (Alumni)
Business Premium Collection (Alumni)
DatabaseTitleList ProQuest Business Collection (Alumni Edition)
CrossRef
Database_xml – sequence: 1
  dbid: 8FG
  name: ProQuest Technology Collection
  url: https://search.proquest.com/technologycollection1
  sourceTypes: Aggregation Database
DeliveryMethod fulltext_linktorsrc
Discipline Journalism & Communications
EISSN 1499-6642
EndPage 279
ExternalDocumentID 10_22230_cjc_2018v43n2a3206
GeographicLocations United States--US
GeographicLocations_xml – name: United States--US
GroupedDBID -~X
0-V
29B
2QL
2WC
4IJ
5GY
6J9
7WY
8FE
8FG
8FL
8FQ
8R4
8R5
AAFWJ
AAIKC
AAMNW
AAWJA
AAYXX
ABUWG
ABZEH
ACIHN
ACNCT
AEAQA
AERSA
AFKRA
AIMQZ
ALMA_UNASSIGNED_HOLDINGS
ALSLI
ARALO
ARAPS
ASOEW
AZQEC
BENPR
BEZIV
BGLVJ
BPHCQ
CCPQU
CITATION
DWQXO
E3Z
EBS
ECE
EJD
FRNLG
GNUQQ
HCIFZ
HEHIP
IN-
K60
K6~
LIQON
M0C
M2R
M2S
M3E
M3G
MEJ
P62
PHGZM
PHGZT
PMKZF
POGQB
PQBIZ
PQBZA
PQGLB
PQQKQ
PROAC
PRQQA
PUEGO
Q2X
SJN
TR2
U5U
UPT
ZCA
ZT2
3V.
7XB
8FK
FRS
L.-
PKEHL
PQEST
PQUKI
Q9U
ID FETCH-LOGICAL-c322t-da6a6042f2b399f02a221aa4e02157a59c38cbb059eca54df1d1751b4ff58e773
IEDL.DBID 8FG
ISSN 0705-3657
IngestDate Wed Aug 13 04:06:06 EDT 2025
Wed Oct 01 06:39:34 EDT 2025
Thu Apr 24 22:59:14 EDT 2025
IsDoiOpenAccess false
IsOpenAccess true
IsPeerReviewed true
IsScholarly true
Issue 2
Language English
License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca
LinkModel DirectLink
MergedId FETCHMERGED-LOGICAL-c322t-da6a6042f2b399f02a221aa4e02157a59c38cbb059eca54df1d1751b4ff58e773
Notes ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 14
OpenAccessLink https://cjc-online.ca/index.php/journal/article/download/3206/3500
PQID 2054139315
PQPubID 47035
PageCount 15
ParticipantIDs proquest_journals_2054139315
crossref_citationtrail_10_22230_cjc_2018v43n2a3206
crossref_primary_10_22230_cjc_2018v43n2a3206
ProviderPackageCode CITATION
AAYXX
PublicationCentury 2000
PublicationDate 2018-01-01
PublicationDateYYYYMMDD 2018-01-01
PublicationDate_xml – month: 01
  year: 2018
  text: 2018-01-01
  day: 01
PublicationDecade 2010
PublicationPlace Toronto
PublicationPlace_xml – name: Toronto
PublicationTitle Canadian journal of communication
PublicationYear 2018
Publisher University of Toronto Press
Publisher_xml – name: University of Toronto Press
References r2
r3
r4
r5
r6
r7
r8
r9
r30
r10
r32
r31
r12
r34
r11
r33
r14
r36
r13
r35
r16
r38
r15
r37
r18
r17
r39
r19
r41
r40
r21
r43
r20
r42
r23
r22
r44
r25
r24
r27
r26
r29
r28
r1
References_xml – ident: r17
– ident: r42
– ident: r40
– ident: r31
  doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.1977.tb00150.x
– ident: r44
– ident: r8
  doi: 10.1037//0033-2909.119.1.111
– ident: r25
– ident: r14
  doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2006.02.009
– ident: r15
  doi: 10.1145/1401890.1401914
– ident: r21
  doi: 10.4000/communiquer.546
– ident: r26
  doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2958.2002.tb00812.x
– ident: r28
– ident: r38
  doi: 10.1016/0747-5632(88)90003-9
– ident: r18
  doi: 10.1037/h0046408
– ident: r2
– ident: r16
  doi: 10.1080/13691180110097030
– ident: r10
  doi: 10.3917/cnx.095.0099
– ident: r36
  doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2012.03.023
– ident: r43
– ident: r6
  doi: 10.7312/bere93630
– ident: r37
– ident: r39
– ident: r22
  doi: 10.1016/0022-1031(83)90027-6
– ident: r41
  doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.1956.tb01292.x
– ident: r35
  doi: 10.1080/01449290410001723472
– ident: r5
  doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.71.5.915
– ident: r24
– ident: r20
– ident: r12
  doi: 10.1111/b.9781405106542.2002.00010.x
– ident: r27
  doi: 10.5130/pcr.v1i2.1867
– ident: r30
– ident: r7
– ident: r19
  doi: 10.1080/00224545.1961.9922108
– ident: r32
– ident: r3
– ident: r33
  doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8309.1985.tb00660.x
– ident: r1
– ident: r4
  doi: 10.1038/scientificamerican1155-31
– ident: r11
– ident: r23
  doi: 10.1177/002200275800200106
– ident: r9
– ident: r13
– ident: r34
– ident: r29
  doi: 10.1037/h0040525
RelatedPersons Milgram, Stanley (1933-1984)
Lea, Martin
RelatedPersons_xml – fullname: Lea, Martin
– fullname: Milgram, Stanley (1933-1984)
SSID ssj0004678
Score 2.0323558
Snippet Background The purpose of this study was to examine whether two variables of persuasive communication, authority and unanimity, induce social conformity when...
The purpose of this study was to examine whether two variables of persuasive communication, authority and unanimity, induce social conformity when people...
SourceID proquest
crossref
SourceType Aggregation Database
Enrichment Source
Index Database
StartPage 265
SubjectTerms Audiences
Climate change
Communication
Computer mediated communication
Computers
Conformity
Consent
Data collection
Digital media
Ethics
Experiments
Groups
Interpersonal communication
Lea, Martin
Milgram, Stanley (1933-1984)
Persuasion
Psychologists
Public relations
Social networks
Social psychology
Studies
Theory
Virtual communities
Web 2.0
Title Impacts of Authority and Unanimity on Social Conformity in Online Chats about Climate Change
URI https://www.proquest.com/docview/2054139315
Volume 43
hasFullText 1
inHoldings 1
isFullTextHit
isPrint
journalDatabaseRights – providerCode: PRVPQU
  databaseName: ProQuest Central
  customDbUrl: http://www.proquest.com/pqcentral?accountid=15518
  eissn: 1499-6642
  dateEnd: 20240531
  omitProxy: true
  ssIdentifier: ssj0004678
  issn: 0705-3657
  databaseCode: BENPR
  dateStart: 20060101
  isFulltext: true
  titleUrlDefault: https://www.proquest.com/central
  providerName: ProQuest
– providerCode: PRVPQU
  databaseName: ProQuest Technology Collection
  customDbUrl:
  eissn: 1499-6642
  dateEnd: 20241001
  omitProxy: true
  ssIdentifier: ssj0004678
  issn: 0705-3657
  databaseCode: 8FG
  dateStart: 20060101
  isFulltext: true
  titleUrlDefault: https://search.proquest.com/technologycollection1
  providerName: ProQuest
link http://utb.summon.serialssolutions.com/2.0.0/link/0/eLvHCXMwfV07T8MwELagXVgQT1FaKg-ICYvEifOYEFQtBYkKISp1QIocP6AIHGgKEv8en5NCu7A6sYezfff57O8-hI7zQIOiS0piIQWBizfCEyGJ1lJxL024dspzt6NoOA5vJmxSJ9zK-lnlwic6Ry0LATlye0hn1t-mgc_O3z8IqEbB7WotobGOmj61KwmY4oOrJV5k5YljuO2NWFxVHYKI6J2JFyhg6CdfYWAoDyhIHi1HplXH7KLNYAtt1jARX1Tzuo3WlNlB7bp5Wr7hE7xC7Sh30eO1IzyWuNAYEl8FyNJhbiQeG26Ax_SNC4MrPi4Gpl8xc41Tg6uCo7j3zG1_91YZ916nFsy6NvOk9tB40H_oDUmtnUCE3aJzInnEI7shNc0tBNEe5ZT6nIcKYnzMWSqCROS5BVdKcBZK7UsLJPw81JolKo6DfdQwhVEHCPuxiqzNvESBNomQPI2ZtLhOeJzl1KMtRBd2y0RdWBz0LV4ze8Bwxs6ssbNVY7fQ6W-n96quxv-_dxYTktWbrMz-lsTh_5_baAOGqzInHdSYzz7VkcUS87zrFkwXNS_7o7v7H13AyN8
linkProvider ProQuest
linkToHtml http://utb.summon.serialssolutions.com/2.0.0/link/0/eLvHCXMwtV1Lb9QwEB6VciiXqjwqSgv4AJyImthxHgeE0MKySx-nrtRDpeD4AYtap20WUP9Uf2NnnAS6l956dWIfxp9nxo9vPoA3tXCk6FJGuTY6oou3SBXaRM4Zq-KyUC4ozx0cZpNZ-u1YHq_A9cCFoWeVg08Mjto0ms7IcZMu0d-WIpEfzy8iUo2i29VBQqODxZ69-otbtvbD9DPO71vOx1-ORpOoVxWINIJ3ERmVqQyh6niNwdnFXHGeKJVain65kqUWha5rTDusVjI1LjEYYpM6dU4WNs8FjvsAHqZCCKrVX4y_3uJhdp4_p9vlTOZdlSOKwPGu_kUFE5PiTyo8V4KTxNLtSLgcCEJ0G2_Aep-Wsk8djh7DivVPYLtvnrdn7B1bopK0T-FkGgiWLWsco4O2hmTwmPKGzbzyxJu6Yo1nHf-XEbOwuQyNc8-6Aqds9FNh__A2mo1O55g8hzb_wz6D2b1YdRNWfePtc2BJbjO0WVxY0kLRRpW5NJhH6ljJmsd8C_hgt0r3hcxJT-O0wg1NMHaFxq6Wjb0F7_91Ou_qeNz9-84wIVW_qNvqPwRf3P35NaxNjg72q_3p4d42PKKhu1ObHVhdXP62LzGPWdSvAngYfL9vtN4ArnEEKg
openUrl ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fsummon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Impacts+of+Authority+and+Unanimity+on+Social+Conformity+in+Online+Chats+about+Climate+Change&rft.jtitle=Canadian+journal+of+communication&rft.au=Farmer%2C+Yanick&rft.au=Bissi%C3%A8re%2C+Mehlia&rft.au=Benkirane%2C+Amina&rft.date=2018-01-01&rft.pub=University+of+Toronto+Press&rft.issn=0705-3657&rft.eissn=1499-6642&rft.volume=43&rft.issue=2&rft.spage=265&rft.epage=279&rft_id=info:doi/10.22230%2Fcjc.2018v43n2a3206
thumbnail_l http://covers-cdn.summon.serialssolutions.com/index.aspx?isbn=/lc.gif&issn=0705-3657&client=summon
thumbnail_m http://covers-cdn.summon.serialssolutions.com/index.aspx?isbn=/mc.gif&issn=0705-3657&client=summon
thumbnail_s http://covers-cdn.summon.serialssolutions.com/index.aspx?isbn=/sc.gif&issn=0705-3657&client=summon