A2 SOCIAL INFLUENCE - Evaluation of Asch's Study And Variables Affecting Conformity Flashcards
What did Perrin and Spencer (1980) find when repeating Asch’s study with engineering students in the UK?
Only one student conformed in 396 trials, unlike the 75% conformity rate in Asch’s study.
Why might Asch’s findings reflect the social norms of the 1950s?
The 1950s was a particularly conformist era in the US, making conformity more likely at that time.
What is a limitation of Asch’s research due to temporal factors?
It lacks temporal validity, as the Asch effect may not be consistent across time or situations.
Why might Asch’s experiment lack ecological validity?
The task (judging line lengths) was artificial and not reflective of everyday situations where conformity might matter.
What did Fiske (2014) criticize about the groups in Asch’s study?
Asch’s groups were “not very groupy” and did not resemble real-life social groups
How do the artificiality of the task and the group setup affect generalisation?
The findings may not apply to real-world scenarios, limiting their ecological validity.
What demographic was exclusively used in Asch’s study?
US Males
How might conformity differ for women, according to Neto (1995)?
Women may be more conformist due to a greater concern for social relationships and acceptance.
How do cultural differences affect conformity, as pointed out by Bond and Smith (1996)?
Collectivist cultures (e.g., China) show higher conformity rates compared to individualistic cultures (e.g., the US)
Why does Asch’s study lack population validity?
Its findings may not apply to women or people from collectivist cultures.
What ethical issue was most prominent in Asch’s study?
Deception – participants were unaware that others in the group were confederates giving pre-determined wrong answers.
How might Asch’s deception cause psychological harm?
Participants might feel confusion, stress, or discomfort when faced with the unanimous incorrect responses.
What ethical practice did Asch use to address ethical concerns?
He debriefed participants after the experiment.
What is a key ethical question about Asch’s study?
Does the significance of the findings justify the ethical compromises, such as deception?
