3. Sherif's (1935) Conformity Experiment

Question 1

When was Sherif’s experiment

Answer 1

1935

Question 2

What did Sherif aim to do

Answer 2

Sherif tested the effects of Information Social Influence (ISI)
- Sherif researched whether ppl are influenced by others when they’re performing an ambiguous task (where the answer isn’t clear)

Question 3

What was the Sherif experiment based on (illusion)

Answer 3

A visual illusion called the ‘autokinetic effect’ was used - where a stationary spot of light viewed in a dark room, appears to move.

Question 4

What was the Sherif experiment

Answer 4

• This was a laboratory experiment w a repeated measures design.
• A visual illusion called the ‘autokinetic effect’ was used - where a stationary spot of light viewed in a dark room, appears to move.
• Participants were falsely told that the experimenter would move the spot of light. They were instructed to estimate how far it moved. In the 1st phase, individual participants made repeated estimates. They were then put into a group of 3 people, where they made their estimate w others present. They were then tested again individually.

Question 5

Results of the Sherif experiment

Answer 5

• When participants were alone, they developed their own stable estimates (personal norms), which varied widely between participants.
• However, once participants were in a group, the estimates tended to converge & become more alike.
• When they were retested individually again, the estimates were move like the group estimates, rather than their original guesses.

Question 6

Conclusion of the Sherif experiment

Answer 6

• Participants were influenced by the estimates of other ppl, & a group norm was developed.
• Estimates converged bc participants used information from others to help them - they were affected by information social influence

Question 7

Evaluation of the Sherif experiment: PROS

Answer 7

• This was a laboratory experiment, so there was strict control of the variables - meaning results are unlikely to have been affected by a 3rd variable, so it should be possible to establish cause & effect
• Also means the method can be replicated
• The repeated measures design meant participant variables that could have affected the results were kept constant

Question 8

Evaluation of the Sherif experiment: CONS

Answer 8

• Participants were being asked to judge the movement of a light that wasn’t moving - this rarely happens in real life. Bc it created an artificial situation, the study can be criticised for lacking ecological validity
• Sample used was quite limited - all were male, so results cannot be generalised to everyone
• An ethical issue of this study was deception - participants were told the light was moving when it wasn’t