Research into conformity(Asch)

Question 1

Aim of Asch’s study

Answer 1

Assessing how much people conform to the opinion of others even if the answer is obvious(unambiguous)

Question 2

Asch’s Procedure

Answer 2

1 Participant tested with 6-8 confederates(123 American male undergraduate participants)
Participant was also asked second to last
Shown two white cards, one with a standard line and one with 3 comparison lines
One comparison line was the same as the standard line
Participants were asked which line matched the standard line
The answer was always obvious/unambiguous
Confederates instructed to give the wrong answer for 12/18 trials and give the right answer for the rest

Question 3

Asch’s findings

Answer 3

Participants gave the wrong answer 36.8% of the time
25% did not conform
75% conformed at least once
Participants claimed to conform to avoid rejection(NSI)
In control group with all real p’s, less than 1% of p’s gave the wrong answer

Question 4

Asch’s conclusion

Answer 4

People conform to avoid rejection even when the answer is obvious
Links to NSI

Question 5

What are the 3 variables affecting conformity

Answer 5

Group size
Unanimity(Presence of a non conforming confederate)
Task difficulty

Question 6

How was the group size variable changed and how did it affect conformity

Answer 6

1 confederate increases conformity by 3%
2 increases by 13%
3+ increases by 32%
Any more than 3 makes no big difference

Question 7

How was unanimity changed and how does it affect conformity

Answer 7

Asch added a non conforming confederate(gave the right answer occasionally)
Decreased conformity by 25%
Having social support decreases pressure, decreasing conformity

Question 8

How was task difficulty changed and how did it affect conformity

Answer 8

Difficulty increased by making comparison lines similar length
Increases conformity
Links to ISI
Participants conform more to be right in ambiguous situations etc

Question 9

A03’s for Asch’s study

Answer 9

Child of it’s time (low historical validity) - Perrin and Spencer repeated the study with engineering students. Only 1 conformed.
Cultural differences - Conformity rate differences between individualistic/ collectivist cultures
Lab study - high control over variables so high internal validity - Counter - artificial tasks - lacks ecological validity

Question 10

Issues and debates for Asch’s study

Answer 10

Gender bias - Neto

Women might conform more than men due to caring more about social relationships(beta bias)