Situational Varibales Affecting Conformity

Question 1

What are the 3 variables identified by Asch ?

Answer 1

1. Difficulty of task
2. Unanimity
3. Group size

Question 2

Explain difficulty of task

Answer 2

The lines were made less obvious so it was harder to tell which one matched up with the critical line

Question 3

Explain ‘difficulty of task’ effect on conformity

Answer 3

Conformity increased
No percentage reported

Question 4

Why did the variable ‘difficulty of task’ effect conformity ?

Answer 4

It could be due to informational social influence as individuals look to another for guidance when completing the task

Question 5

Explain the variable ‘unanimity’

Answer 5

One of the confederates were instructed to give the correct answer or a different wrong answer

Question 6

How did unanimity affect conformity

Answer 6

Conformity dropped to 5%

Question 7

Why did the variable ‘unanimity’ affect conformity ?

Answer 7

Shows that if the real participant has support for their belief, then they are more likely to resist pressure to conform.
If you break the unanimous position, then conformity is reduced

Question 8

Explain the situational variable ‘group size’

Answer 8

Asch varied the number of conferences from 1 - 15

Question 9

What effect did the variable ‘ group size’ have on conformity ?

Answer 9

1 confederate - conformity dropped to 3%
2 confederates - conformity dropped to 12.8%
3 confederates - 32% (same as og experiment)
15 confederates - saw a decline in conformity

Question 10

Why did the variable ‘group size’ effect conformity levels

Answer 10

Shows conformity reaches a peak at 3. When the number of confederates reached 15 conformity started to be affected again. This could be due to the large number of confederates making the real participant suspicious. And therefore not experience the same pressure to conform.