Social Influence L3 - Key Studies In Conformity

Question 1

Studies for NSI and ISI

Answer 1

ISI
Jenness (1932)
Sherif (1935)

NSI
Asch (1951)

Question 2

Jenness’ Aim

Answer 2

To examine whether individuals will change their opinion in an ambiguous situation, in response to group discussion

Question 3

Jenness’ Method

Answer 3

• glass bottle full of 811 white beans
• sample of 26 students who guessed how many beans in the bottle (on their own)
• divided into groups of 3 and asked to provide estimate through discussion
• then afterwards on their own they were asked again to see if they changed their answers

Question 4

Jenness’ results

Answer 4

• nearly all participant changed answers from the original one when given second chance to estimate on their own
• answers stated to converge in groups
• second individual answers were closer to group discussion

Question 5

Jenness’ results (stats)

Answer 5

• On average male participants changed their answer by 256 beans and women by 382 beans
• the range of the whole group went from 1875 before discussion to 474 after - decrease of 75%
• shows converging opinions

Question 6

Jenness’ conclusion

Answer 6

• results show change due to ISI as they believed that the group estimates were more likely to be correct in comparison to our own
• looked to others for support as they had a need to be right and weren’t sure if they were right

Question 7

What did Asch want to explore?

Answer 7

• Wanted to see what would happen when people were confronted with a majority who were wrong
• Gave easy task so that if the participant gave the wrong answer it would be due to group pressure
• study also known as ‘Asch effect’

Question 8

Asch’s aim

Answer 8

• investigated the extent to which social pressure from a majority group could affect a person to confirm
• investigate the degree to which individuals would conform to a majority who gave obviously wrong answers in a non-ambiguous situation

Question 9

Who took part in Asch’s experiment

Answer 9

123 male US undergraduates

Question 10

What was the size of the group and who was in them

Answer 10

• groups of 6-8
• only one real participant, rest were confederates (agreed on answer in advance)
• real participant the last one, or next to last

Question 11

What type of experiment was it

Answer 11

Lab experiment - conducted in controlled environment

Question 12

How many trials were there

Answer 12

• 18 trials (for each participant)
• 12 trials were critical - where confederates gave the wrong answer
• 6 were real trials

Question 13

Independent and dependent variable (Asch)

Answer 13

(IV) - Manipulating critical trial, confederates giving wrong answer
(DV) - To see if participant conforms

Question 14

What was the control group

Answer 14

• no confederates, only real participants
• 36 participants with 20 trials
• error rate of 0.04% - 3 out of 720

Question 15

Asch’s results

Answer 15

• on average in critical trials about a third (32-36%) confirmed to clearly incorrect majority
• over 12 critical trials, about 75% conformed at least once, 25% never conformed

Question 16

Asch’s conclusion

Answer 16

• he interviewed participants after to give reasons for answers:
• most said they knew answers were wrong but went along with group to fit in/ thought they would be ridiculed
• some started doubting their own views
• confirms compliance due to NSI and the desire to fit in publicly without changing private views
• participants wanted to be liked rather then right