An evaluation of touch on a large request: a field setting.
The effect of touch on compliance to a request has traditionally been tested with small solicitation (answer to a small questionnaire, give a dime to a confederate ....). In our experiment a larger request was evaluated. Passersby, 53 men and 67 women, were asked by two confederates to look after a large and very excited dog for 10 minutes because each wanted to go into a pharmacy where animals were prohibited. In half of the cases, subjects were touched during the request. Analysis showed that, when touched, 55% of the subjects agreed with the request whereas 35% only in the no-touch control condition agreed. This finding indicates that touch was positively associated with the subjects' compliance (p<.03).
Guéguen
Nicolas
N
Laboratoire GRESICO, Université de Bretagne-Sud, IUT de Vannes-Département TC, France.
Fischer-Lokou
Jacques
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014110:Touch