🔵 Social influence: Asch's research

Question 1

When did Asch conduct his baseline procedure

Answer 1

1951

Question 2

What were the findings of Asch’s baseline procedure

Answer 2

On average genuine participants conformed 36.8% of the time

25% of the participants never conformed

75% of participants conformed at least once

Question 3

Describe Asch’s baseline procedure

Answer 3

Asch tested 123 Americans in 18 trials (12 of them being critical) and each of them were put in a group with other participants (who where actually confederates)
During 6 of the trials confederates gave the correct answer (not critical trials)

Each participants saw 2 large white cards on each trial:
The ‘X’ line was on the left side
The line A,B, and C (the comparison lines) were on the right

On each trial the participant had to say which of the comparison lines matched ‘X’
despite one on the lines was clearly the same length as ‘X’ and the other two were different

Question 4

What were the variables investigated by Asch after conducting his baseline procedure

Answer 4

Group size

Unanimity

Task difficulty

Question 5

In what year did Asch extend his study to investigate variables that might led to an increase of decrease in conformity

Answer 5

1955

Question 6

Did group size increase or decrease conformity

Answer 6

It increases conformity

Question 7

Did unanimity lead to an increase of decrease in conformity

Answer 7

It increases conformity

Question 8

Did task difficulty lead to an increase or decrease in conformity

Answer 8

It increased conformity

Question 9

Why did Asch research group size as a variable affecting conformity

Answer 9

Asch wanted to know whether the size of the group was more important that the agreement of the group

Question 10

What were the findings of Asch’s group size research

Answer 10

He found that conformity increased but only to a point

With three confederates conformity increased to 31.8% but the presence of more confederates made an insignificant difference

There was a curvilinear relationship between group size and conformity

Question 11

What does conformity only increasing significantly with a group size of two people suggest

Answer 11

It suggests that most people are sensitive of others because two is enough to sway opinions

Question 12

How was the Asch’s group size research variation different from the Asch’s baseline test

Answer 12

Asch varied the number of confederates from one to 15

Question 13

Why did Asch research unanimity as a variable affecting conformity

Answer 13

Asch wanted to know whether the size of the group was more important that the agreement of the group

Question 14

What were the findings of Asch’s unanimity research

Answer 14

Rate of conformity decreased less than ¼ of the level it was when majority was unanimous

Question 15

In Asch’s unanimity variation, even when the dissenter disagreed with the participant, why did conformity still decrease

Answer 15

This is because the dissenter acted as a model to the participant and allowed them to act more independently

Question 16

How was the Asch’s unanimity research variation different from the Asch’s baseline test

Answer 16

Asch introduced a confederate who would disagree with the others

Question 17

What were the two types of Asch’s unanimity research variation

Answer 17

Asch introduced a confederate who would disagree with the others

One would give the correct answer

The other would give an incorrect answer

Question 18

Why did Asch research task difficulty as a variable affecting conformity

Answer 18

Asch wanted to know whether increasing difficulty of a task would affect the degree of conformity

Question 19

What were the findings of Asch’s task difficulty research

Answer 19

As task difficulty increased - so did the conformity rates

Question 20

What did the finding of Asch’s task difficulty research suggest

Answer 20

It suggests that as uncertainty increases the more a person would seek guidance and assume the majority’s views are right

Question 21

How was the Asch’s group size research variation different from the Asch’s baseline test

Answer 21

Asch increased the difficulty of the line judging task by making the stimulus line and the comparison lines more similar to each other

Question 22

What did the findings of Asch’s unanimity research variation suggest

Answer 22

It suggests that non-conformity is more common when cracks are perceived in the majority’s unanimous view

And that influence depends on unanimity

Question 23

What are the evaluation points of Asch’s research

Answer 23

Task and situation were artificial

Limited application of culture and people

Research supporting the effect of task difficulty

Counterpoint to the research supporting the effect of task difficulty

Question 24

What are the limitations of Asch’s research

Answer 24

Task and situation were artificial

Limited application of culture of people

Counterpoints of the research supporting the effect of task difficulty

Question 25

What are the strengths of Asch’s research

Answer 25

Research supporting the effect of task difficulty

Question 26

Describe the research supporting the effect of task difficulty on conformity

Answer 26

Lucas et al (2006) Asked participants, easy and hard maths problems

Then they were given the answer from three other student participants (who were actually confederates)

And the participants and agreed with the wrong answers when the problems were harder

Question 27

How is the research supporting the effect of task difficulty on conformity a strength

Answer 27

It shows that Asch was correct in his claim that task difficulty is a variable affecting conformity

Question 28

Who investigated the study supporting the effects of task difficulty on conformity (and what year)

Answer 28

Lucas et al (2006)

Question 29

Explain the artificial task and situation limiting Asch’s research

Answer 29

Because Asch used a task and situation that was artificial people had demand characteristics because they were in a research study

Also Fiske (2014) stated that ‘Asch’s groups were not very groupy’ suggesting that it doesn’t resemble groups in everyday scenarios

Question 30

How is the task and situation being artificial a limitation of Asch’s research

Answer 30

It lacks mundane realism because the task was artificial

It lacked ecological validity because it was not done in a natural environment

Question 31

Who verified that Asch used artificial tasks and situations (and in what year)

Answer 31

Fiske (2014)

Question 32

Explain the counterpoint of the research supporting the effect task difficulty has on conformity

Answer 32

Lucas et al proved conformity is more complex than Asch suggested
For example participants with higher confidence in their maths ability conformed less than low confidence people

Question 33

How is the counterpoint of the research supporting the effect task difficulty has on conformity

Answer 33

It shows that individual level factors can influence conformity by interacting with the situation or variables,

Which Lucas et al did not account in his study supporting Asch and the effects of task difficulty

Question 34

Explain the limited application of culture and people limiting Asch’s research

Answer 34

Asch’s Participants were all American men and other research (conducted by Nero 1995) shows women to be more conformist because they concern about social relationships and being accepted

America is an individualistic culture and studies conducted in collective cultures (by Bond and Smith 1996) found conformity to be higher

Question 35

How is the limited application of culture and people of Asch’s research a weakness

Answer 35

It only investigates one group of people, hence generalisations of findings can’t be made

Question 36

Which researcher suggested that women were more likely to be conformist

Answer 36

Neto 1995

Question 37

Who replicated Asch’s research in more collectivist cultures (like China)

Answer 37

Bind and Smith 1996