variables affecting conformity

Question 1

group size

Answer 1

in the original experiment, there were between 6 and 8 confederates

in variations, asch investigated the effect of group size on conformity by altering the number of confederates used

1 confederate, conformity rate = 3%

3 = 31.8%

4 or more = 35%

as more social influence is experienced

Question 2

unanimity

Answer 2

in aschs original experiment, confederates answer unanimously by providing the same wrong answer

in a variation, asch investigated the effect of unanimity on conformity by including one supportive confederate, giving the correct answer whilst the majority gave the same wrong answer

1 supportive confederate - conformity rate = 5.5%

shows that the social influence experienced by the participants was reduced when the supportive confederate gave the correct answer, giving them freedom to show more independent behaviour

Question 3

task difficulty

Answer 3

in aschs original experiment, participants experienced an unambiguous task with an obvious answer

in a variation, asch investigated the effect of task difficulty by making the lines more similar in length

with a difficult task, conformity rates rose to 57%

this is because participants experienced informational social influence as well as normative social influence