Conformity: Asch’s Research

Question 1

Describe Asch’s research procedure in three points

Answer 1

Judging the lengths of lines against a control line.

Used 123 American men as PPS.

Naive PPS tested in group with 6-8 confederates.

Question 2

Describe Asch’s findings in three points

Answer 2

Naive PPS gave the wrong answer 36.8% of the time

25% never conformed

75% conformed at least once

Question 3

Name Asch’s three variations

Answer 3

Group size
Unanimity
Task difficulty

Question 4

What effect did group size have on Asch’s results?

Answer 4

Conformity increased up to group size 4 little effect afterwards

Question 5

What effect did unanimity have on Asch’s results?

Answer 5

Presence of a dissenter reduced the level of conformity

Question 6

What effect did task difficulty have on Asch’s results?

Answer 6

When the task difficulty was increases there was more conformity. (ISI)

Question 7

What research evidence disproves Asch’s results? (explain the results) (AO3)

Answer 7

Perrin and Spencer

Repeated the experiment on engineering students
One student conformed on 396 trials
Less conformity in 1980 than 1950 (conformist society in 1950s?)
Therefore Asch effect not consistent over time?

Question 8

Why was Asch’s line judgment task criticised? (AO3)

Answer 8

It was artificial, Judging lines is trivial.
Demand characteristics.
Cannot generalise to everyday.

Question 9

Why does Asch’s research have a limited application? (AO3)

Answer 9

Only tested on American men so ethnocentric and androcentric

USA individualist culture however china is a collectivist culture so china would have higher rates of conformity so cannot generalise across cultures.