Social influence experiments

Question 1

Asch

Answer 1

Research into majority conformity.

Aim:
To see whether individuals will conform to majority influence and give incorrect answers in situations where the answer was obvious.

Procedure:
- 123 male American students.
- Asked to take part in a ‘vision’ test.
- Only 1 real ppt.
- Had to look at two cards ( a test card, one line and another with 3 lines).
- Ppts had to match a line on the second that was the same as the first.
- Real ppt always called out 2nd to last and on 12/18 of the trials (critical trials).

Results:
- Ppts conformed to the confederates incorrect answer on 36.8% of the critical trials.
- 75% conformed at least once.
- 25% never conformed.
Post experiment discussions found that only changed their public views, not private (NSI).
Some others stated that they felt doubt about the accuracy of their answer, so this is why they conformed (ISI).
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE.

Conclusion:
- even when the task is easy, there may be pressure to conform to comply with the groups answer, can lead to compliance.
.

Question 2

Sample of Asch

Answer 2

SAMPLE:
Good sample size, not very representative (all male, American students).
- Women are more likely to conform (social approval and perception).
- Individualistic vs collectivistic
Individualistic = being independent, focus on yourself.
Collectivistic = group and community over individual.
More likely to be higher conformity in a collectivistic community, America is individualistic.