Explanations of conformity

Question 1

Who conducted RTS ISI?

Answer 1

Jenness

Question 2

What did Jenness do?

Answer 2

Participants were asked to individually estimate the number of jelly beans in a jar, then decide on a group estimate and finally, have a last private, individual guess.

Question 3

What did Jenness find?

Answer 3

She found that participants second private guess was significantly closer to the groups estimate than their own original estimate

Question 4

Why does Jenness’ research support ISI?

Answer 4

The task was ambigious and as the participants were unsure of the answer, they sort information from the group and changed their estimate publicly and privately to be right

Question 5

What did the research by Jenness lack?

Answer 5

It lacks ecological validity

Question 6

Why does Jenness’ research lack eco val?

Answer 6

This is because the study took place in an artificial environment making it difficult to generalise the findings to real life examples of ISI as people may be less likely to conform as a group as there may be consequences to their actions unlike in an artificial setting

Question 7

What does eco val reduce?

Answer 7

Reduces the external validity of Jenness’ research into ISI

Question 8

Who conducted RTS NSI?

Answer 8

Asch

Question 9

What did Asch do?

Answer 9

He had participants state which line a, b or c was closest to the stimulus line ‘x’ - confederates answered first and gave an incorrect answer

Question 10

What did Asch find?

Answer 10

He found the participants conformed and said the same wrong answers as the confederates 37% of the time.

Question 11

Why does Asch’s research support NSI?

Answer 11

Because the task was unambiguous and the participants later stated they knew the answer but conformed in order to avoid ridicule from the group

Question 12

What is a limitation of Asch’s research?

Answer 12

It is gender bias as only males were tested (androcentric)

Question 13

What does gender bias make it difficult to do?

Answer 13

It is more difficult to generalise the findings to females as it is suggested that females might be more conformist because they are more concerned about social relationships and are more concerned with being liked by their peers than males (Neto)

Question 14

What does gender bias weaken?

Answer 14

It weakens the external validity of the research into NSI