The Effect of Anonymity on Conformity to Group Norms in Online Contexts: A Meta-Analysis

Authors

  • Guanxiong Huang Michigan State University
  • Kang Li Michigan State University

Keywords:

deindividuation, group identification, anonymity, conformity, meta-analysis

Abstract

This research meta-analyzed 13 journal articles regarding anonymity and conformity to group norms. Results showed that there was a positive relationship between anonymity and conformity, with a weighted mean effect size  = 0.16, which was in line with the social identity model of deindividuation effects. This study also investigated the differences between different types of anonymity and found that visual anonymity had a medium magnitude of effect size on conformity ( = 0.33), whereas evidence was lacking in terms of the significant effects of physical anonymity and personal information anonymity. In addition, the presence of an outgroup was also a moderator of the effect of anonymity on conformity. Studies in which participants were aware of the existence of an outgroup ( = 0.22) had larger effect sizes than those with no outgroup ( = 0.10).

Author Biographies

Guanxiong Huang, Michigan State University

Guanxiong Huang is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at Michigan State University.

Kang Li, Michigan State University

Kang Li is a doctoral student in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at Michigan State University.

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Published

2016-01-06

Issue

Vol. 10 (2016)

Section

Articles

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