Asch’s conformity research (1951)

Question 1

Asch’s experiment procedure

Answer 1

1. line judgement task
2. 4 out of 5 participants where confederates
3. gave false answers to pressure the subject to conform

Question 2

Asch’s experiment evaluation - strengths

Answer 2

1. controlled environment (conducted in a lab
2. high internal validity (no distractions)
3. group pressure is utilised

Question 3

Asch’s experiment evaluation - weaknesses

Answer 3

1. lacks ecological validity (artificial tasks)
2. no implications and real world applications
3. lacks temporal validity (post-war)

Question 4

Conclusion of Asch’s experiment

Answer 4

1. participants conformed due to normative social influence
2. desire to fit in
3. despite the answer being obvious

Question 5

Factors of Asch’s experiment

Answer 5

1. difficulty of the task - conformity increased
2. size of the majority - little conformity
3. unanimity of the majority - breaking group’s consensus main influence in conformity

Question 6

Asch’s experiment findings

Answer 6

1. 123 undergraduate american males
2. through 12 critical trials 75% of all people conformed at least once and a total of 36.8% of people conformed