Final answer:
According to Asch's studies, 76% of participants provided an incorrect answer due to group pressure at least once. The presence of an ally who dissents, and whether the response is public or private, impact the likelihood of conformity.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the research findings of Solomon Asch, 76% of participants conformed to group pressure at least once by indicating an incorrect answer. Asch's experiments on conformity concluded that people often yield to group pressure even against their better judgment. The factors contributing to this tendency include the size of the majority, the presence of an ally who dissents, and whether the response is public or private.
In a scenario where each participant wrote down their answer, rather than speaking it aloud, conformity to provide incorrect answers decreased significantly. Furthermore, having just one ally in the group who would also dissent could dramatically reduce the likelihood of the subject conforming to the group's incorrect view, showing the power of having support when resisting the majority influence.