Studies/Research

Question 1

Asch’s study

Answer 1

Participants shown two white cards at a time. One card had a ‘standard line’ and the other had 3 ‘comparison lines’. one of the 3 lines was the same as the first line. The ppt had to say which line matched the first line.
123 American male.
ppt gave a wrong answer 36.8% of the time. Overall 25% of ppt didn’t conform on any trials. 75% did conform.

• Artificial situation and task
• Limited application of findings

Question 2

Baddeley et al (1975)

Answer 2

Demonstrated that people find it more difficult to remember a list of long words (such as ‘association’) rather than short words.
This is because there is a finite space for rehearsal in the articulatory process (around 2 seconds worth).
The word length effect disappears if a person is given an articulatory suppression task - a repetitive task that ties up the articulatory process.