SOC 03 - Evaluation of Asch and explanations Flashcards
What is validity?
- The extent to which an observed effect is genuine – does it measure what it was supposed to measure, and can it be generalised beyond the research setting within which it was found
- Validity is synonymous with accuracy
What is internal validity?
- A kind of validity, concerned with what goes on inside a study – the extent to which the researcher is measuring what is intended
- In an experiment, this includes the control of variables to ensure that changes in the DV are solely due to the IV
What is external validity?
The degree to which a research finding can be generalised to other settings (ecological validity), other groups of people (population validity) and over time (temporal validity).
What are the types of external validity?
- Ecological validity
- Population validity
- Temporal validity
What is ecological validity?
The extent to which findings from a research study can be generalised to other setting and situations.
What is population validity?
A type of external validity that measures how well the findings of a study can be applied to a larger group of people, or population.
What is temporal validity?
A type of external validity that refers to the validity of the findings in relation to the progression of time.
What are the strengths of the Asch line experiment?
- It has a strong control over extraneous variables as the procedure is very structured, same materials for everyone, same number of confederates
- Has support from other studies for the effects of difficulty such as Todd Lucas’ study with maths questions
What are the limitations of the Asch line experiment?
- It has poor ecological validity as generalise real- world situation or resemble groups that we experience in everyday life
- The task and environment were artificial making it obvious that it is a study resulting in participants thinking that conforming id the correct thing to do (demand characteristics)
- The task was trivial and there was no real reason to conform
- It lacks populational validity as it was only done on American men so it cannot represent the wider population (women may be more likely to conform) or those from other countries may have higher conformity rates e.g. China
- Ethical issues -> the naïve participant were highly deceived
What are the strengths of the theory of NSI?
- When Asch interviewed participants, they said the conformed because they felt self-conscious and were afraid of disapproval
- There is evidence to support from when Asch test for what would occur when there was a disruption unanimity, when there was one non-conforming confederate conformity rates dropped to 9% as there was less group pressure
- When participants were asked to write down their answers conformity rates also dropped to 12.5% as there was less normative group pressure
What are the limitations of the theory of NSI?
There are individual differences nAffiliators who have a strong desire to be associated with others would be more likely to conform. NSI doesn’t affect everyone in the same way.
What are the strengths of the theory of ISI?
In Todd et al’s study proves that when task difficulty increases so does conformity. In Todd’s study participants were given difficult maths questions, participants did not want to be wrong and so relied on the answers given by other participants providing evidence for ISI.
What are the limitations of the theory of ISI?
- If there is dissenter, they may reduce the power of NSI (because they provide social support) or ISI (they provide an alternative source of social information)
- This makes it difficult to distinguish between NSI or ISI in a research study or real life
- There is individual difference in those who have high or low confidence in maths ability
