SI2. Variables Affecting Conformity (Asch)

Question 1

Asch’s Study

Answer 1

• 123 Male American Undergraduates; groups of 6 (1 true P, 5 confederates)
• Aim: investigate conformity and majority influence
• 4 lines presented (3 comparison, 1 standard); asked to state which of 3 matched standard.
• true P gave answer second-last; confederates would give incorrect answer

Question 2

Asch’s Study Findings

Answer 2

• 37% conformed
• 25% never conformed
• 75% conformed once

Question 3

Group Size

Answer 3

• individual more likely to conform in larger group
• conformity rose by 30% if group had >3 confederates; plateau’d with 4 confederates
• more likely to conform as their confidence in ‘correctness of group’ increases, and their confidence in own ability decreases

Question 4

Group Unanimity

Answer 4

• individual more likely to conform if group is unanimous, as opposed to different answers
• conformity fell to 5% when P’s were joined by defector confederate
• the more unanimous a group, the greater confidence an individual has in the groups correctness

Question 5

Task Difficulty

Answer 5

• an individual is more likely to conform as the task difficulty increases
• e.g. Asch altered comparison lines to make them similar in length; task difficulty increased =conformity increased.
• ISI is a major mechanism for conformity when the situation is ambiguous and individual doesn’t have enough personal knowledge/information to make informed decision

Question 6

+ Eval: High Internal Validity

Answer 6

• strict control over extraneous variables (e.g. timing and assessment type)
• participants did experiment before without confederates in order to establish they knew the correct answer (removes confounding variable of lack of knowledge)
• suggests valid and reliable cause and effect relationships can be established, as well as valid conclusions

Question 7

• Eval: Ethical Issues

Answer 7

• researchers breached BPS ethical guideline of ‘deception’, and therefore ‘informed comsent’
• deceived: told study was about ‘perception’, not compliance
• psychological harm: P’s embarrassed after realising true aims of study (question agency)
• however, participants were debriefed
• ethical issues don’t affect findings, but instead encourage a cost-benefit analysis

Question 8

+ Eval: Supports NSI

Answer 8

• participants reported they conformed to fit in
• supports NSI, which states people conform to fit in, or avoid ridicule/embarrassment