Informational influence is moderated by type of task:
For some judgements there are clear nonsocial criteria for validation, which places this sort of judgment within the realm of physical reality. However, other judgements cannot be made using objective criteria because they are more subjective. Here, people rely on social consensus. As a result, majorities should exert greater influence on issues of social rather than physical reality, and this is precisely what research tends to show (Laughlin, 1999).