SP - Moscovici et al (1969)

Question 1

what was the aim of Moscovici’s research

Answer 1

to see if a minority could influence the majority when choosing between different colours of slides

Question 2

what did his study entail

Answer 2

blue-green study of consistency

Question 3

what was the procedure of his study

Answer 3

• P’s were given eye tests to check whether they were colour blind
• they were placed in groups of 6 - 4 participants and 2 confederates
• shown 36 slides which were clearly different shades of blue and asked to state the colour of each slide out loud
• 2 confederates answered green for all the 36 slides - consistent
• for the next 36 slides they answered green 24 times and blue 12 times - inconsistent

Question 4

what were the results of his study

Answer 4

• when they were consistent all the other 4 P’s called it green 8.42% of the trials - 32% at least once
• when they were inconsistent the P’s called them all green 1.25% of the trials

Question 5

conclusion of the study

Answer 5

minorities are able to influence a majority, but not all the time and only if they show consistent behaviour

Question 6

strengths of Moscovici’s study

Answer 6

• lab experiment so high control of variables - easy to replicate

Question 7

limitations of Moscovici’s study

Answer 7

• only one third of people conformed (2 thirds didn’t)
• only used female students - not generalisable
• blue and green are quite similar colours (informative social influence)
• lacks ecological validity