Social Influence - Asch (1951)

Question 1

What was the procedure of Asch experiment?

Answer 1

123 American Males, line test. P’s tested in groups of 6-8 (all were confederates) and were always 2nd to last.

Question 2

What were the variations of Asch experiment?

Answer 2

Group size, unanimity and task difficulty.

Question 3

Baseline findings of Asch’s experiment

Answer 3

The genuine participants agreed with confederates incorrect answer 36.8% of the time. 25%never gave a wrong answer.

Question 4

Explain how group size affected Asch’s experiment?

Answer 4

Varied no. of participants from 2-16. Conformity increased with group size.

Question 5

Explain how unanimity affected Asch’s experiment?

Answer 5

Introduced confederate who disagreed with others. Genuine participant conformed less in the condition with a dissenter.

Question 6

Explain how Task difficulty affected Asch’s research?

Answer 6

Made the lines closer in length. conformity increased (ISI).

Question 7

What are some strengths of Asch’s research?

Answer 7

Controlled experiment.
Supporting research: Lucas (2006)

Question 8

What are some weaknesses of Asch’s experiment?

Answer 8

Social desirability bias, ethical issues, artificial environment (low mundane realism), demand characteristics.

Question 9

Lucas (2006)

Answer 9

found participants conformed more on harder questions (ISI)
concurrent validity
HOWEVER: individuality could influence

Question 10

Perrin and Spencer (1980)

Answer 10

found cultural and temporal factor are relevant

Question 11

Fiske (2014)

Answer 11

argued groups didn’t represent groups irl

Question 12

Bond and Smith (1996)

Answer 12

found collectivist cultures have higher conformity rates