Asch Conformity Study

Question 1

Asch study procedure

Answer 1

123 American male participants
Groups of 6- 1 true and 5 confederates
Aims: to investigate conformity and majority influence

Procedure:
4 lines- 3 comparison 1 standard
Identify which line was same
Real participant always answered 2nd to or last
Confederates give same incorrect answer 12/18 times- critical trials

Asch observed how many times participant gave same incorrect answer as confederates

Question 2

Asch study findings

Answer 2

Mean conformity: 36.8%
Agreed with incorrect majority on 1/3 of critical trials

Wide individual differences- 25% didn’t conform, 75% confirmed at least once, 5% confirmed on every trial

Question 3

Limitation Asch (temporal)

Answer 3

Lacks temporal validity
Took place in 1950s America with very conformist society due to McCarthyism- thousands of Americans accused of communism and targeted for being different

Bond and smith meta analysis found decrease in conformity rates over time since Asch study
Individualist vs collectivist culture

So more likely to conform, may not be same now

Question 4

Limitation Asch (ecological)

Answer 4

Though has high internal validity due to control over extraneous variables

Artificial group- strangers, normally we are in group with friends, family etc.
Williams found we are more likely to conform with friends

Artificial task- meaningless, not important enough to try and avoid ridicule from others

Question 5

Strength Asch (replicate)

Answer 5

Replicated with youths on probation as participants and probation officers as confederates
Similar levels of conformity supporting Asch

However more likely to conform to authority figures like probation officer

Question 6

Variations of Asch

Answer 6

Size of group
Unanimity of majority
Task difficulty

Question 7

Size of group effect on conformity

Answer 7

1 participant and 1 confederate= 3% conformity
2 confederates= 13%
3 confederates= 32%
Steadied as more added

Suggests small majority isn’t influential but no need for majority of more than 3

Question 8

Unanimity of majority effect on conformity

Answer 8

Disrupting unanimity with dissenter decreases to 5.5%

Even if dissenter disagreed with participant, 9%

Extra study- dissenter with thick glasses similarly low conformity

Presence of dissenter alone enough to encourage independent behaviour

Question 9

Task difficulty effect on conformity

Answer 9

Comparison lines more similar in length
Conformity increased
More likely to conform and look to others when answer is unclear