LS4 - Variables Affecting Conformity

Question 1

3 Conditions Affecting Conformity (Asch)

Answer 1

Group Size.
Unanimity Of The Majority.
Task Difficulty.

Question 2

Group Size (Asch)

Answer 2

There was very little to no conformity if there were 1/2 confederates in the majority. 3 confederates = 30% conformed and any further had no affect on conformity. Campbell and Fairey (1989) said group size will have an effect depending on the type of judgement, the more ambiguous the task the more likely conformity is so people can ‘fit in’.

Question 3

Unanimity Of The Majority (Asch)

Answer 3

If one confederate gave the correct answer conformity dropped from 33% to 5.5%, if one confederate gave the wrong answer and it wasn’t the same as the majority, rates dropped to 9% suggesting only break in the unanimous decision is needed for conformity rates to drop.

Question 4

Task Difficulty (Asch)

Answer 4

Asch made the difference between the line lengths much smaller and the level of conformity increased. Lucas Et Al (2006) found that the influence of task difficulty is moderated by someone’s self-efficacy, high self-efficacy pps remained more independent than low self-efficacy pps. Therefore task situational and personality differences are both important in determining conformity.

Question 5

Weaknesses Of Asch’s Study

Answer 5

Lacks temporal validity.
lacks ecological validity.
lacks population validity.
ethical issues.

Question 6

Lacks Temporal Validity (Asch)

Answer 6

Perrin & Spencer (1980) repeated Asch’s study on engineering students in the UK and only 1 student conformed meaning conformity doesn’t always occur although do bear in mind these man were engineering students. 1950s in US also could’ve been a more conformist era than 1980. Therefore it lacks temporal validity because it doesn’t apply across time.

Question 7

Lacks Ecological Validity (-)

Answer 7

Pls knew they were in a study so showed demand characteristics, the task wasn’t something that we do everyday so could’ve affected pp conformity rates. Fisk (2014) argues that Asch’s groups don’t resemble the groups we find ourselves in everyday, therefore the results can’t be generalised to everyday situations, and therefore it lacks ecological validity.

Question 8

Lacks Population Validity (Asch)

Answer 8

All participants were men, does it apply to women, Neto (1995) suggested women are more conformist because they care about being accepted. Bond & Smith (1996) everyone being from the US introduced individualistic culture, conformity rates were higher in China in more collectivist cultures where people care more about the group than themselves. Asch’s findings are therefore limited because it only applies to US males, and therefore lacks population validity.

Question 9

Ethical Issues (Asch)

Answer 9

Asch’s study deceived pps, they didn’t know there were confederates in the group. Confederates giving wrong answers in critical trials could to psychological harm for the pp because they’d be confused why everyone gave an answer that was clearly wrong, which could make them confused/stressed. This deceit questions whether Asch gave his pps fully informed consent.