Asch’s Research

Question 1

What is the procedure of Asch’s study?

Answer 1

A lab experiment of 123 American P’s, one P was surrounded by 7 confederates who give the wrong answer 12 times and the right answer 6 times. They had to choose which line was the same size as X. The real P answered last to see if they confirmed or chose the answer they thought was right.

Question 2

What is the quantitative data of Asch’s research?

Answer 2

-Ps made no errors with actors absent
-Ps conformed on 36.8% of trails with confederates present
-25% remained independent
-75% confirmed to the majority on at least 1 trial

Question 3

What is the qualitative data of Asch’s research?

Answer 3

-some conformed so that they didn’t ’spoil the results’
-conformed due to normative social influence

Question 4

What are the variables affecting conformity?

Answer 4

1. Group size- the pressure to conform increases with more people
2. Broken unanimity- the other individual who give the right answer weakens the majority’s power
3. Task difficulty- the more difficult the task the greater the conformity