Perceptions on Conformity Across Ages: A Mixed-Method Analysis
Human Health and Behavior- Grade:
- 6
- Teacher:
- Julie Sharkey
Conformity is the act of trying to be accepted as the “norm”, or to think what is correct. This definition is validated from the article, What is conformity? Definition, Types, Psychological Research (2023). Conformity is what surrounds, well, everything! Everything we do, we eat, we live, is some form of conformity. There’s no way to escape it! But that’s not particularly what I’m researching. I’m discovering how conformity affects different age groups, and what their perceptions on the phenomenon are. Hence the name, Perceptions of Conformity Across Ages. I chose this project because I have seen the ways people change who they are for the purpose of trying to fit in, and I wanted to see how/if that changes as we age and get more life experience. I find this project to be extremely important because it is important for people to understand what it means to conform, when they conform, and what they might be giving up if they conform. I interviewed 11 participants from ages 11-82 and learned that conformity can result in regrets if not handled with care. Sometimes it is important to not conform and instead stop and ask questions because that is when discoveries are made! Keywords: conformity, self-discovery, human experience
You picked a powerful topic that connects to real life, and you explained why you care about it in a thoughtful way. Your plan is very strong because you use both surveys and interviews, which helps you learn from numbers and personal stories. You also did a great job writing clear research questions, identifying variables, and thinking about different age groups. This is a mature and meaningful project that helps people understand how social groups can affect choices and behavior.
Excellent research project exploring how conformity changes across different age groups. I especially liked how you used both surveys and interviews to collect data and identify themes such as social pressure, safety, and emotional stability. Your charts and participant quotes helped clearly explain how younger people often conform to fit in while adults become more aware of conformity over time.