Asch’s Baseline Study & Variations Flashcards
Describe Asch’s Baseline Procedure
- 123 male participants in groups of 6-8 had to state aloud which of 3 stimulus lines was the same length as an original comparison line.
- In each group, there was only one genuine participant. The rest were confederates.
How many critical trials did Asch conduct?
12
What percentage of participants conformed in Asch’s 12 critical trials at least once?
75%
What was the overall rate of conformity across Asch’s 12 critical trials?
36.8%
Which 3 variables affecting conformity did Asch investigate?
- Group Size
- Unanimity
- Task Difficulty
How did Group Size affect conformity in Asch’s trials?
Conformity increased, but only to an extent. Asch concluded one or two confederates were enough to sway opinions.
How did Unanimity affect conformity in Asch’s trials?
Conformity decreased when a dissenter was introduced, even if they disagreed with the genuine participant.
How did Task Difficulty affect conformity in Asch’s trials?
Conformity increased when the stimulus lines and the comparison lines were more similar
Why can cause-and-effect be established in terms of Asch’s trials?
Due to a high degree of control, and therefore a high level of internal validity
What study supports Asch’s variation into Task Difficulty?
Lucas’ hard vs easy maths problem study
Why can’t Asch’s research be generalised?
All participants were American men
Why do Asch’s trials lack mundane realism and external validity?
The task was artificial, and didn’t reflect instances of conformity in everyday life. There was also no real reason for participants not to conform.
What study suggests Asch’s trials lack temporal validity?
Perrin & Spencer’s replication with maths, chemistry and engineer students, in which only 1 of 300+ trials conformed
What percentage of participants conformed 100% of the time in Asch’s trials?
5%
When a dissenter was introduced in Asch’s variations, what did the rate of conformity fall to?
1/4 of what it originally was in the Baseline Study
