Variables affecting conformity

Question 1

What was the aim of Asch’s study?

Answer 1

To investigate conformity and majority influence

This study explored how individuals conform to group opinions.

Question 2

How many participants were involved in Asch’s study?

Answer 2

123 male American undergraduates

Participants were organized in groups of 6, including 1 true participant and 5 confederates.

Question 3

What was the procedure used in Asch’s study?

Answer 3

Participants were presented with 4 lines; 3 comparison lines and 1 standard line, and asked to identify the matching line

The real participant answered last or second to last, following confederates’ responses.

Question 4

What percentage of participants conformed in Asch’s study?

Answer 4

36.8%

This indicates the level of conformity observed among the participants.

Question 5

What percentage of participants never conformed in Asch’s study?

Answer 5

25%

This highlights the variability in conformity among individuals.

Question 6

What was the result of the control trial in Asch’s study?

Answer 6

Only 1% of responses given by participants were incorrect

This suggests that eyesight/perception was not an extraneous variable.

Question 7

What factor increases conformity according to Asch’s findings?

Answer 7

Size of majority/Group size

Conformity rises when the group size exceeds three confederates.

Question 8

What is the optimal group size for influencing conformity?

Answer 8

Four

Conformity does not significantly increase in groups larger than this.

Question 9

What happens to conformity when the majority is unanimous?

Answer 9

Conformity increases

When joined by another participant giving the correct answer, conformity fell from 32% to 5.5%.

Question 10

What effect does task difficulty have on conformity?

Answer 10

Increased difficulty leads to increased conformity

Participants are more uncertain and look to others for confirmation when tasks are more challenging.

Question 11

Fill in the blank: An individual is more likely to conform when the __________ is unanimous.

Answer 11

majority

A unanimous group provides normative social influence.

Question 12

What is the relationship between task difficulty and informational social influence?

Answer 12

The more difficult the task, the greater the conformity

Individuals rely on others for information when they lack confidence in their own knowledge.

Question 13

True or False: Conformity does not seem to increase in groups larger than four.

Answer 13

True

This indicates a limit to the influence of group size on conformity.