Conformity Studies + Evaluation

Question 1

What did Sherif (1935) - Conformity and the autokinetic effect research?

Answer 1

The effects of Informational Social Influence:

If people are influenced by others while doing an ambiguous task (answer isn’t clear)

Question 2

Sherif (1935) - Conformity and the autokinetic effect METHOD

Answer 2

(Lab experiment + Repeated measures design)
- Sherif used a visual illusion called the autokinetic effect, where a stationary spot of light, viewed in a dark room, appears to move
- Participants were falsely told that the experimenter would move the light
- Participants had to estimate how far the light had moved
phase 1: individual participants made repeated estimates
phase 2: participants put into groups of 3, where they each made their estimate with the others present
Finally, they were retested individually

Question 3

Sherif (1953) - Conformity and the autokinect effect; RESULTS + CONCLUSION

Answer 3

Results:
phase 1 (alone): ‘s had own stable estimates (personal norms), varied widely between p’s
phase 2(group): estimates converged, becoming more alike.
retest (alone): estimates were more like the group estimates than their original guesses.
Conclusion:
P’s influenced by estimates of other people, developing a group norm. Estimates converged because p’s used info from others to help them = informational social influence

Question 4

Sherif (1953) - Conformity and the autokinetic effect; EVALUATION

Answer 4

Lab experiment:
+ Strict control of variables = lack of extraneous variables = easier to establish cause and effect = more reliable
+ Easily replicable
Repeated Measures:
+ Participant variables kept constant
Method:
- Artificial situation = lacking ecological validity
Sample:
- Limited = all male participants = difficult to generalise
Ethics:
– Deceived participants (was told the light was moving when it wasn’t)

Question 5

What did Asch (1951) research?

Answer 5

Effects of Normative Social Influence - saw whether people would conform to a majority’s incorrect answer in an unambiguous task (one where the answer is obvious)

Question 6

Asch (1951) - Conformity on an unambiguous task; METHOD

Answer 6

(Lab experiment + independent groups design)

• Groups of 8 were asked to judge line lengths by saying out loud which comparison line (1, 2 or 3) matched the standard line.
• Each group contained only one real participant (others were confederates)
• Real participant always went last or second last so they heard the confederates answers
• Each participant did 18 trials, 12 (critical trials) confederates all gave the same wrong answer.
• Control group: participants judges lines in isolation

Question 7

Asch (1951) - Conformity on an unambiguous task; RESULTS + CONCLUSION

Answer 7

RESULTS:
Control trials: wrong answer 0.7% of the time.
Critical trials: participants conformed to the majority 37% of the time. 75% conformed at least once.
CONCLUSION:
Control shows that the task was easy. However, 37% were wrong on the critical trials - they conformed to the majority due to normative social influence

Question 8

Asch (1951) - Conformity on an unambiguous task; EVALUATION

Answer 8

Lab experiment:
+ Strict control of variables = lack of extraneous variables = easier to establish cause and effect = more reliable
+ Easily replicable

Method:
- Artificial situation = lacking ecological validity

Ethics:
- Deceived participants