Evaluation of Confomity Research.

Question 1

Why does the research lack ecological validity?

Answer 1

• Laboratory Experiments
• Tasks involved are far from normal, everyday life and are quite artificial.
• If therefore, participants define the situation as artificial and the tasks as unreal, is it fair to generalise the findings outside of the lab?

Question 2

How can the experimental method be defended and seen as a strength?

Answer 2

• If the participants are put in an artificial situation with complete strangers and they conform, it shows the power of pure group pressure.
• The participants will never see the confederates again, their answers are obviously wrong so they don’t need their approval.
• Cause and Effect.

Question 3

What is the issue of temporal validity in conformity research?

Answer 3

• Asch’s research was conducted in the early 1950’s in America- a time where non-conformity was disencouraged.
• Evidence to suggest that Asch’s results may reflect the society of his day.

Question 4

Who repeated Asch’s experiment which questions the temporal validity of Asch’s research?

Answer 4

Nicholson, he found lower conformity levels. This may be due to changes in American society.

Question 5

What are the ethical issues with Asch’s research?

Answer 5

• Lied to participants telling them a wrong, made-up aim (to reduce demand characteristics)
• meaning there is a lack of informed consent.