Key Studies - Paper 1

Question 1

Asch’s Study

Answer 1

Sample: 123 American males were tested individually with 6-7 confederates

Procedure: On each trial they identified the length of a standard line. Confederates began to make obvious mistakes on 12 / 18 trials

Results: Naïve participants gave wrong answers 36.8% of the time. 25% never gave a wrong answer and 75% conformed at least once

Variables Affecting Conformity: group size, unanimity and task difficulty

Question 2

Suffragette’s Movement (Social Change)

Answer 2

The Suffragettes were CONSISTENT in their view and used educational and political arguments to draw attention to female rights.

They remained CONSISTENT for many years and despite opposition continued protesting until they convinced society that women were entitled to vote.

The suffragettes were COMMITTED and made significant sacrifices for their cause; many risked imprisonment and others risked death through extended hunger strikes.

Question 3

Jenness (Research Support for Informational Social Influence)

Answer 3

Procedure: Participants were asked to initially make independent judgements about the number of beans contained in a jar and then discuss their estimates in a group. Participants then made a second, individual estimate.

Findings: The second private estimate moved closer to the group estimate and that women typically conformed more.

Question 4

Adorno (Authoritarian Personality)

Answer 4

Procedure: Researched this using the F-scale. F for Fascism. It was a questionnaire to measure the level of authoritarian personality in individuals.

Findings: Believed that authoritarian personalities are formed early in life, often due to harsh parenting styles and a strict upbringing.

Question 5

Milgram’s Study

Answer 5

Sample = Recruited 40 male participants. He advertised it as a study into memory.

Procedure = Participants played the ‘teacher’, a confederate played the ‘learner’ and there was an ‘experimenter’ in a lab coat. The ‘teacher’ had to give an electric shock every time the ‘learner’ gave a wrong answer. The shocks ranged from 15 volts to 450 volts. If the ‘teacher’ was unsure about leaving the ‘experimenter’ would give them a series of prods to stay in the experiment.

Findings = No participant stopped before 300 volts and 65% continued to 450 volts.

Question 6

Zimbardo’s Study

Answer 6

Sample = 24 emotionally stable students were recruited an randomly assigned to roles of prisoner or guard. It took place in the basement of the psychology department at Stanford University.

Procedure = Prisoners were arrested from their homes and delivered to the prison blindfolded, strip-searched, deloused and issued a uniform and number.

Findings =
- Within 2 days prisoners began to rebel.
- Guards took on their roles
- Prisoners took on a submissive role
- 3 prisoners were released early as a result of a fragile mental health.
- The study was closed after 6 days

Question 7

Mosovici’s Study (Consistency Regarding Minority Influence/Social Change)