SOCIAL INFLUENCES: Conformity - Asch's experiment

Question 1

What did Asch’s experiment investigate?

Answer 1

Group pressure to conform, and factors of group size and anonimity

Question 2

Hypothesis?

Answer 2

Participants would not conform if they could clearly see what was incorrect and incorrect

Question 3

Who were the participants?

Answer 3

50 first year college students

Question 4

Describe the procedure

Answer 4

Participants deceived, told the experiment was on visual perception/judgement
The room contained 6 confederates and 1 participant at a table, with an experimenter
Confederates told to deliberately give the wrong answer

Question 5

Describe the results

Answer 5

75% agreed with atleast one incorrect response; 33% agreed for more than half
24% did not conform
All experienced self-doubt: those who conformed didn’t want to ruin results of experiment; those who didn’t felt “crazy”

Question 6

What conclusion was drawn?

Answer 6

People conformed because: they wanted to belong; or felt other members were better informed