Social Influence

Question 1

Research support for NSI

Answer 1

P= One strength of NSI is that evidence supports it as an explanation of conformity
E= For example , Asch interviewed his participants , some said that they conformed because they felt self conscious giving the correct answer and they were afraid of disapproval. When participants wrote their answers down , rather than verbally answering conformity fell down to 12.5 %.
E= This suggests that providing answers privately meant that there was no normative group pressure or the need to be liked.
L= This is a strength because it provides support for NSI, highlighting that some conformity is due to the desire not to be rejected by the group.

Question 2

Research support for ISI

Answer 2

P= One strength of ISI is that there is evidence to support the explanation.
E= For example , Lucas et al (2006) found that participants conformed more often to incorrect answers they were given when the maths problems were difficult.
E=This suggests that when problems are easy, participants know the answer however when the problems were ambiguous they relied on answers that were given by others.
L= This is a strength because it suggests that individuals will conform due to the need to be right.

Question 3

Real life application for NSI

Answer 3

P= One strength of NSI is that there is real life application presented by researchers using a field experiment.
E= For example , Schultz et al found that they were able to change the behaviour of hotel guests by using printed messages which encouraged them to save energy. The messages that suggested other guests were using fewer bath towels were the most successful.
Ex= This suggests that the message created awareness of the norm for towel use among other guests to fit in with the norm , as this would be approved by others.
L= This is a strength because this is an example of NSI occurring in a real life environment .