Evaluation

Question 1

Strength of ISI

Answer 1

Research support
Lucas, 2006 aske students to give answers to hard and easy maths questions
More conformity to incorrect answers when questions were more difficult
Shows people conform in situations we feel we don’t know the answer- we look to others and assume they know right

Question 2

Strength of NSI

Answer 2

Research support
Asch, 1951 asked participants to explain why they agreed with clearly wrong answers- she said they felt self conscious and didn’t want to be rejected
When asked to write answers down, conformity fell to 12.5%

Question 3

Limitation of ISI

Answer 3

Individual differences
Asch, 1955 found students were less conformist, 28% than other participants, 37%
Perrin and Spenser, 1980 also found less conformity in students
People who are more intelligent and/ more confident are less influenced by the right view

Question 4

Limitation of NSI

Answer 4

Individual differences
People who care more about being liked- nAffiliators are more affected by NSI
McGhee and Teevan, 1967 found people who are nAffiliators are more likely to conform

Question 5

1st limitation of Asch study

Answer 5

Findings may be a child of its time
Perrin and Spencer, 1980 found 1 conforming students out of 369 trials
1950s was a conforming time in America and in subsequent decades people are less likely to conform
Asch effect is not consistent over time

Question 6

2nd limitation of Asch study

Answer 6

Situation and task was artificial
Participants knew they were in a studios may have responded to demand characteristics
Findings do not generalise to everyday situations

Question 7

3rd limitation of Asch study

Answer 7

Ethical issues

Participants were deceived as beloved confederated were also participants

Question 8

4th limitation of Asch study

Answer 8

Findings inly apply to certain groups
Only men were tested. Neto, 1994 suggested women may be more likely to conform because they are more concerned about social relationships