Asch's Research into Conformity & Variables Affecting Conformity

Question 1

Outline Asch’s baseline study into conformity

Answer 1

• Aim: To investigate how people conform to group pressure even if the correct answer (of a task) is unambiguous
• Method: Lab experiment, 123 male undergraduates, volunteered to take part in ‘visual discrimination’ task
• Procedure: A single naive participant sat 2nd to last in a room with 6-8 confederates. They were shown cards with a ‘standard line’ and were asked which of the three ‘comparison lines’ matched it. The confederates all said the incorrect answer in 12 critical trials (out of 18)
• Results: 75% of participants conformed at least once, conformity rate was 36.8% across all critical trials. Majority of participants said they conformed to avoid rejection (NSI)
• Conclusion: Individuals do conform to group pressure even when the correct answer is unambiguous - ‘The Asch Effect’

Question 2

Outline Asch’s group size variation

Answer 2

• Aim: To investigate if the size of the group would be more important than the agreement of the group
• Method: Lab experiment
• Procedure: Decreased the number of confederates conforming to the wrong answer to 3 rather than 6-8
• Results: Conformity to the wrong answer was 31.8%
• Conclusion: Only a majority of 3 conforming people are required

Question 3

Outline Asch’s unanimity variation

Answer 3

• Aim: To investigate if the presence of another non-conforming person would affect conformity rates
• Method: Lab experiment
  Procedure: A dissenter would give a different answer to the confederates.
  -Results: Conformity was reduced to 5.5%
• Conclusion: The influence of the majority depends to some extent on the group being unanimous

Question 4

Outline Asch’s task difficulty variation

Answer 4

• Aim: To investigate which variables affect conformity rates; specifically task difficulty
• Method: Lab experiment
• Procedure: Made the task of distinguishing between the length lines more difficult
• Results: Conformity levels increased
• Conclusion: We are more likely to look to others for correct information when we are unsure of the answer ourselves (ISI)

Question 5

What is a strength of Asch’s research?

Answer 5

P: High internal validity
Ev: Lab experiment was used meaning all nuisance variables were controlled
Ex: Can confidently establish cause and effect between group pressure and conformity rates
L: Therefore we can uses Asch’s research to understand why people conform, increases validity of research

Question 6

What are two limitations of Asch’s research? (four in total)

Answer 6

P: Low ecological validity
Ev: Lab experiment means environment was artificial so demand characteristics more likely as participants felt uncomfortable, lacked mundane realism as task is not something we do in everyday life so Ex: Results are unrepresentative
L: Asch’s findings should not be generalised beyond the laboratory setting and used to explain conformity in the real world.

P: Low temporal validity
Ev: In the 1950s people were very afraid of communism
Ex: People would have been more likely to conform to the norms to prevent accusation of being called a communist (politician McCarthy) and be sent to jail
L: Therefore due to the oppression in society at the time the results found may be irrelevant

3.) Gender bias:

4.) Cultural differences: