asch's research

Question 1

when did asch do his study

Answer 1

1955

Question 2

what variables did asch investigate in his study

Answer 2

1. group size
2. unanimity
3. task difficulty

Question 3

what were asch’s findings in terms of group size

Answer 3

as group size increased so did conformity

it suggest most people are very sensitive to the views of others due to 1 or 2 confederates being enough to sway opinion

Question 4

what were asch’s findings in terms of unanimity

Answer 4

the influence of the majority depends on whether it is unanimous

this suggests conformity is more likely when there are faults in the majorities unanimous view

Question 5

what were asch’s findings in terms of task difficulty

Answer 5

when the task is harder conformity increases

this could be due to the participants not knowing what the answer is so they look to others for guidance and assume they are right and that themselves are wrong

Question 6

define the asch effect

Answer 6

conforming even when the situation is unambigious

Question 7

define confedrates

Answer 7

someone who knows the aim of the study

Question 8

define dissenter

Answer 8

gives the right answer

1 other person agrees (dissenter) to other participant causing you more likely to conform

Question 9

what was the procedure for group size in asch’s study

Answer 9

varied number of confederates

group size 1-15

Question 10

what was the procedure for unanimity in asch’s study

Answer 10

adding a dissenter into the group

Question 11

what was the procedure for task difficulty in asch’s study

Answer 11

increased difficulty for line judging

Question 12

what is the research used to support asch’s theory

Answer 12

Lucas et al (2006)

asked participants to solve hard and easy maths problems

participants were given answers from 3 other students (not real)

participants conformed more when the questions were harder

asch correctly identified a variable that affects conformity