AO1

• Aim:


  To investigate conformity and majority influence
• Sample:


  123 male American undergraduates in groups of 6; consisting of 1 true participant and 5 confederates (actors/people in on the experiment)
• Method:


  -Participants and confederates were presented with 4 lines; 3 comparison lines and 1 standard line-They asked to state which of three lines was the same length as a stimulus line-The real participant always answered last or second to last

  -Confederates would give the same incorrect answer for 12 out of 18 trials-Asch observed how often the participant would give the same incorrect answer as the confederates versus the correct answer
• Results:

  -36.8% conformed-25% never conformed-75% conformed at least once In a control trial-only 1% of responses given by participants were incorrect (which eliminates eyesight/perception as an extraneous variable, thus increasing the validity of the conclusions drawn)
• Conclusion:

  People can sometimes conform to the majority group to gain social approval, despite the correct answer is obvious and they might not agree with the group’s opinion.
• How does group size impact conformity?


  An individual is more likely to conform when in a larger group.
• What was the level of conformity when the group size of confederates was less than 3?


  There was low conformity with a group size of less than 3.
• By how much did conformity rise when the group size exceeded 3?


  Conformity rose by 30% when the group size exceeded 3.
• Why is a person more likely to conform when all members of the group agree?


  It increases their confidence in the correctness of the group and decreases their confidence in their own answer.
• What is considered the optimal group size for conformity?


  The optimal group size for conformity is four.
• What happens to conformity in groups larger than four?


  Conformity does not seem to increase in groups larger than four.
• What does the study suggest about the influence of the majority on conformity?


  • The majority must be at least 3 to exert an influence.
  • An overwhelming majority is not needed in all instances to bring about conformity.
• How does the unanimity of a majority impact conformity?


  An individual is more likely to conform when the group is unanimous.
• What happens to conformity when joined by another participant who gives the correct answer?


  Conformity falls from 32% to 5.5%.
• What is the effect on conformity when different answers are given by the group?


  Conformity falls from 32% to 9%.
• Why does unanimity increase confidence in participants?


  The more unanimous the group is, the more confidence the participant will have that they are all correct.
• What is the relationship between group unanimity and the likelihood of a participant's answer being incorrect?


  The participant's answer is more likely to be incorrect when the group is unanimous.
• What role does unanimity play in establishing a majority view?


  • Vital in establishing a consistent majority view
  • Provides normative social influence
  • Prevents conflicting views from arising
• How does task difficulty impact conformity?


  An individual is more likely to conform when the task is difficult.
• What evidence did Asch provide to demonstrate the impact of task difficulty on conformity?


  Asch altered the comparison lines to make them more similar in length.
• What was the effect of making the comparison lines more similar in length?

  Conformity increased because it was harder to judge the correct answer.
• Why do individuals look to others for confirmation when the task is difficult?


  They are more uncertain of their answer.
• What is the relationship between task difficulty and conformity?


  The more difficult the task, the greater the conformity.
• What does the link between task difficulty and conformity suggest about informational social influence?


  • Informational social influence is a major mechanism for conformity.
  • It occurs when the situation is ambiguous.
  • Individuals lack enough knowledge or information to make informed decisions independently.
  • They look towards others for guidance.