Social Influence: Variables Affecting Conformity Flashcards
Name three variables that affect conformity
Group size
Unanimity
Task Difficulty
Which variable was investigated by making the lines similar lengths?
Task difficulty
Which variable was investigated by having a ‘lone’ confederate give a different, incorrect answer?
Unanimity
Which variable was investigated by increasing the number of the confederates?
Group size
HOW was task difficulty investigated?
By making the comparison lines more similar in length
HOW was unanimity investigated?
By having a confederate give a different incorrect answer AND give the correct answer
HOW was group size investigated?
By increasing the size of the majority (the number of confederates)
When Asch used one real participant and one confederate, what was the conformity rate?
3%
When Asch used one real participant and two confederates, what was the conformity rate?
13%
When Asch used one real participant and three confederates, what was the conformity rate?
32%
What did Asch CONCLUDE about group size and conformity?
The size of the majority does effect conformity, but only to a point
What does unanimity mean?
Complete agreement from a group
What was the conformity rate in Asch’s original study?
37%
What was FOUND when one confederate gave the right answer?
Conformity rates dropped to 5.5%
What was FOUND when one confederate gave a different, incorrect answer?
Conformity rates dropped to 9%
HOW did Asch investigate task difficulty?
By making the comparison lines more similar in length
HOW did Asch investigate unanimity?
By having confederates give a different incorrect answer / the correct answer
HOW did Asch investigate group size?
By increasing the majority (the number of confederates)
What explanation of conformity is used with explaining conformity during harder tasks?
Informational Social Influence
Informational social influence is used to explain conformity during which variable?
Task difficulty (harder tasks)