Asch's Experiment

Question 1

aim

Answer 1

to investigate the extent to which an individual within a group will conform to the majority opinion

Question 2

method

Answer 2

Participants were told that this was an experiment to study visual perception ‘
Participants were placed in groups of seven to nine confederates (planted actors)
The participants was always the second last in the group to give an opinion
The group was shown the two cards. They were asked: “Which line on Card B is closest in length to the line on card A?”
In 12 of the 18 trials, the confederates all gave the same wrong answer; in the other six trials they gave the correct answer

Question 3

results

Answer 3

Of the 50 participants, 37 (74%) conformed on at least one of the occasions, giving the same wrong answer as the confederates
Fourteen participants conformed more than six of the 12 trails
The mean conformity rate was four out of the 12 trials

Question 4

conclusion

Answer 4

Asch concluded that:
1. Participants wanted to feel that they belonged to the group
2. Participants believed that the other group members were better informed than they were
Asch himself commented (1955) that it is a matter of concern that we have so strong a tendency towards conformity in our society, calling into question our education system and society’s values.