Extending Knowledge of the Effects of Social Influence in Warning Compliance

Three experiments are reported which measure the effects of social influence on participants' willingness to use protective equipment when carrying out a paint-spraying task within a laboratory setting. The first study established baseline compliance levels in both low-cost and high-cost conditions. The second study showed that compliance levels are greater when a single confederate also uses the protective equipment, and lower when the confederate does not use the equipment. The third study shows that a larger group of confederates, where only the majority comply or do not comply, can also influence participant compliance in the same way.