Asch^ Flashcards
Aim
investigate the degree to which individuals would conform to a majority who gave obviously wrong answers
Procedure
- lab
- independent groups
- standard line and 3 comparison lines to be matched
- 123 american, male undergraduates
- tested alone with 6-8 confederated in 18 trials
: in 12, they gave wrong answers
Findings
- 36.8% of time the naive gave wrong answer
- 75% conformed at least once
- 5% conformed at every critical trial
- when asked, they said it was to avoid rejection (NSI)
Asch Effect
the extend to which participants conformed even when situation is unambiguous
Conclusion
- participants conformed as those in controlled groups rarely gave wrong answers
- influenced by others to not be rejected (NSI)
Variables
Group Size
- 2 confederated at 13.6%
- 3 were at 31.8% (no need for more)
Unanimity
- 5.5% with non conformiting person
- 9% with a dissenting one to give another wrong answer
Task Difficulty
- standard and comparison line more similar
- conformity increases
- ISI in ambiguous situations
Strenghts
- lab
: high control - Replicated
: variations, follow up discussions for more inf
Methodological Problems
- us male undergraduates
- not generalised to others
Artificial
- line judging test is not true to a real world context
Unethical
- participants were deceived
- told it was a visual task
Not Consistant
Perrin & Spencer - repeated with enginering students in UK- only 1 in 396 conformed
: more confident with lines
- 1950s in America was a more conformist time and usual to establish social norms
Cultural Differences
- all from America
: individualist culture - repeated in collectivist cultures (China) so rates were higher
- Asch’s findings didnt take account gender or culture
: not generalised/ valid
