Variables Affecting Conformity Flashcards
What three variables did Asch investigate?
Group Size, Unanimity, Task Difficulty
What was Asch’s baselines study?
Participants attempted to judge which line from 2 options was longer. Confederates would give an incorrect answer to test rates of conformity.
What did Asch’s baseline study find?
People conformed due to social pressure. (NSI)
How did Asch investigate group size?
Varied the number of confederates from 1-15 with only one real participant.
What did Asch find in relation to group size?
Conformity increased with group size to a point. More than three confederates caused conformity rates to level off.
How did Asch investigate unanimity?
Introduced the presence of a non-conforming confederate, giving the correct answer in one version and a different answer in another version.
What did Asch find in relation to unanimity?
Conformity decreased in the presence of the non-conforming confederates. Remained true even when dissenter gave another incorrect answers.
What was Asch’s conclusion in relation to group size?
People wish to fit into with the group (NSI).
What was Asch’s conclusion in relation to unanimity?
The opinion of the majority influences the majority (NSI)
How did Asch study task difficulty?
He made the lines closer together so it would be harder to judge.
What did Asch find in relation to task difficulty?
Conformity increased further.
What conclusion did Asch draw in relation to task difficulty?
People conform when they don’t know something due to Informative Social Influence (ISI).
