Variables affecting conformity

Question 1

who conducted an experiment to research conformity?

Answer 1

Asch (1956)

Question 2

what did Asch examine

Answer 2

the extent to which social pressure to conform from a majority group can affect someone

Question 3

Asch: who was tested?

Answer 3

123 male US undergrad students

Question 4

Asch: what did each group consist of?

Answer 4

1 ppt and 5 confederates, all seated at a table together. the ppt was always seated 2nd to last

Question 5

Asch: what were the ppts and confederates shown?

Answer 5

4 lines; 1 standard line and 3 comparison lines

Question 6

what did Asch observe?

Answer 6

how often the ppt would give the same obviously wrong answer as the confederates in comparison to the right on

Question 7

Asch: results

Answer 7

33% conformed to the majority

75% conformed at least once amongst the trials

25% did not conform at all

Question 8

asch: what does the experiment demonstrate

Answer 8

Asch’s experiment demonstrates how the majority of people conform when the rest of their peers all give the same answer.

Question 9

how did asch review his study

Answer 9

When Asch interviewed the participants afterwards, he discovered that the majority of participants who conformed, continued to trust their own perceptions and judgements in private, but had changed their public behaviour, giving incorrect answers to avoid disapproval from the other group members – demonstrating compliance.

Question 10

Asch evaluation points

Answer 10

1. biased sample - lacks population validity
2. lacks ecological validity
3. ethics

Question 11

what is ecological validity?

Answer 11

when you cant replicate the study to real life examples