Asch (1955) CONTEXT AND AIMS

Question 1

What is conformity?

Answer 1

Copying majority group.

Following course of action favoured by majority.

Question 2

Define majority influence:

Answer 2

Influenced by the way the majority think or act.

Question 3

Define public compliance:

Answer 3

Someone alters their behaviour to conform.

Question 4

Define private acceptance:

Answer 4

Someone alters behaviour and beliefs.

Question 5

What did Jenness (1932) do?

Answer 5

Jelly bean jar.
Produce an estimate.
-results suggest an ambiguous situation.

Question 6

How did Sherif use auto kinetic effect to investigate conformity?

Answer 6

Participants give estimate.
Group of 3- estimate again.
—–> influenced by others.

Question 7

How did Sherif develop Jenness?

Answer 7

His participants changed estimate under own violition.

Question 8

Asch’s criticism of Jenness & Sherif:

Answer 8

Experimenter bias.

Demand characteristics.

Question 9

Asch’s reasons for studying conformity:

Answer 9

• Jenness & Sherif was limited- measured formation of group norms.
• lacked impact ( like ambiguous situations- no clear answers)

Question 10

Asch’s main aim:

Answer 10

Investigate effects of group pressure ( in unambiguous situations)
When obvious incorrect answer would they conform or give independent answer.

Question 11

Asch: Number of participants

Answer 11

123 male undergraduates from US colleges

Question 12

Asch: Research method used

Answer 12

Controlled observation

Question 13

Asch: IV

Answer 13

Confederates or not.

Question 14

Asch: DV

Answer 14

If participant conformed or not

—-> number of errors

Question 15

Asch: Procedure

Answer 15

• 1 naive, 6-8 confederates.
• two cards: 1 standard line, 3 comparison lines
• report judgements. X18 (12 critical trials)
• debriefed

Question 16

What is a critical trial?

Answer 16

Confederates give obviously wrong answer.

Question 17

Standard line:

Answer 17

Comparison lines:

Question 18

Why was participant sat second to last?

Answer 18

Feel apart of the group.

Doesn’t know what last person will say.

Question 19

Why didn’t the confederates give away wrong answer on every trial?

Answer 19

Show they can be truthful.

Question 20

Variations of the baseline study (5)

Answer 20

• size of majority
• truthful partner
• inaccurate partner
• changes mind
• partner leaves

Question 21

What is gradual majority influence?

Answer 21

Gradually increasing the size of majority to influence individual.

Question 22

What is degree of wrongness?

Answer 22

How obvious the wrong answer is

Question 23

Of all the critical trials ____ of responses were wrong.

____ were right.

Answer 23

36. 8%

63. 2%

Question 24

_____ never gave wrong answer.

Answer 24

25%

Question 25

Variation: Size of majority

Answer 25

More confederates, more likely to conform

Question 26

Variation: Truthful partner

Answer 26

Reduce pressure to conform

Question 27

Variation: Inaccurate partner

Answer 27

Reduce pressure to conform. | Pressure of a dissenter increased

Question 28

Variation: changes mind

Answer 28

When confederate independent= naive independent. | Independent first 6 critical trials- then conformed

Question 29

Conclusions:

Answer 29

Strong tendency to conform (clear answer) | Bigger majority= more pressure

Question 30

What does the study tell us about resisting conformity?

Answer 30

Have confidence | 'Believe in own judgement'

Question 31

Evaluate methodology: lab experiment Strength

Answer 31

Control extraneous variables- we know its the is causing the change in dv Have standardised procedures makes it easy to replicate and check reliability

Question 32

Evaluate methodology: lab experiment Weakness

Answer 32

Artificial environment- not natural behaviour Lack ecological validity A trivial task of no importance ----> demand characteristics

Question 33

Evaluate methodology: Reliability Larsen (1974) Perrin & Spencer (1980)

Answer 33

Larsen- conformity levels lower than Asch Perrin & spencer- 1/396 conformed- scientists

Question 34

Evaluate methodology: Validity

Answer 34

Feel they need to conform (obvious lines are different length) - demand characteristics

Question 35

Comparison line task valid test of conformity?

Answer 35

Artificial lad- not true behaviour Latane & Darley- smoke in room task more realistic Trivial task

Question 36

How ecologically valid?

Answer 36

Not natural environment Can't generalise Not true behaviour

Question 37

Saying answers out loud could affect conformity:

Answer 37

Personality - shy: conform - confident: independent

Question 38

Evaluate methodology: Sampling

Answer 38

Volunteer sample- more helpful Show more demand characteristics- dont want to mess up results biased- all males- can't generalise

Question 39

Evaluate methodology: Ethical issue

Answer 39

Lied about aims- "vision experiment" Deception | Lie to make accurate