Moscovici's Experiment

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

observe the role of a consistent minority upon the opinions of a majority in a clear, unambiguous situation.

Question 2

Procedure.

Answer 2

Lab, all female- eye tests taken to ensure they’re not colour blind-. Told it was test of colour perception. Shown 36 slides, asked to identify colour (all clearly blue)

Question 3

Condition 1

Answer 3

2 confeds answered green consistently for all slides

Question 4

Condition 2

Answer 4

2 confeds answered green 24 times and blue 12 times. Inconsistent.

Question 5

what % identified a slide as green at least once?

Answer 5

33%

Question 6

% of green responses in condition 1

Answer 6

8.2%

Question 7

% of green responses in condition 2

Answer 7

1.25%

Question 8

conclusion

Answer 8

8.2 isn’t huge, but significantly higher than 1.25- shows consistency is important to minority infliuence.

Question 9

weakness: lack of eco validity

Answer 9

Lab; likely to succumb to demand characteristics, random sample doesn’t reflect minorities. E.g, feminists fight for women’s rights contrary to something as trivial as a slide colour.
Link: low internal due to DC, low eco validity. Not applicable to real life.

Question 10

Weakness: Oestrocentric sample

Answer 10

Sample consists of women only. Maybe women conform more or less than men. Gender bias means potential findings are not applicable to all groups, but only the ones in the study.

Question 11

Strength: Protection from harm

Answer 11

Guessing coloured slides is fine, Ps will not need to be debriefed. By following ethical guidelines, Moscovici is seen as credible in psychology.