The Line Experiment - Asch 1951

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To investigate who would conform to obviously wrong answers

Question 2

procedure

Answer 2

• 123 US Male’s
• Lab experiment
• All confederates accept 1
• 7/9 participants
• 12/18 trials

Question 3

Findings

Answer 3

• 37% of trials were conformed on
• 75% of participants confirmed at least once
• 5% conformed to all wrong answers

Question 4

conclusion

Answer 4

• participants wanted to avoid rejection
• Normative social influence

Question 5

Situational variable - task difficulty

Answer 5

• lines were made closer together/ similar lengths
• people were more likely to conform

Question 6

Situational variable - group size

Answer 6

• changing the number of confederates
• more confederates increased conformity levels

Question 7

Situational variable - unanimity

Answer 7

• adding a non confederate
• conformity levels dropped to 5.5% with a friend