Asch Study Flashcards

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1
Q

Aim

A

To test conformity

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2
Q

Procedure

A
  • Two large white cards at a time
    – One card had standard line, other card had three other lines
    – P’s had to pick which of the three lines the standard line matched (match was obvious)
    123 American male undergraduates
    – Each real p in a group with between 6-8 confederates
    – First few trials, correct answers given, then started making the wrong choice
    – Real p took part in 18 trials and confederates gave incorrect answer on 12 ‘critical trials’
    – ‘Trial’ means each time the confederates chose the wrong line
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3
Q

Findings

A

The naïve participant gave the wrong answer 36.8% of the time
– 75% of naïve participants conformed at least once
– The term Asch effect has been used to describe this result
– The extent to which participants conform when situation is dubious
– Interviewed afterwards, most said conformed as they wanted to fit in

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4
Q

Evaluation

Demand characteristics

A

The p’s may have known the aim of the study and therefore changed their behaviour

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5
Q

Evaluation

Results can’t be generalised

A

They were all undergraduates so a young age meaning social approval may have been the reason they conformed and this may not be applicable to older people

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6
Q

Evaluation

Limited application

A

Only Men were tested, no females

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7
Q

Ash Variations

3

A
  • Group size- with only 3 confederates conformity to the wrong answer rose
  • unanimity- a confederate who disagreed with the others was introduced which decreased conformity by a quarter
  • task difficulty-conformity rose when he made the task more difficult. Shows evidence of Informational social influence
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