Asch VE

• What are the 3 variations?

  Group Size, Task Difficulty and Unanimity
• What was the first variation?

  Group size on conformity
• What is the explanation of Group Size?


  Conformity peaked at 7 participants but started to decrease over 7.
• What was the second variation?

  Task Difficulty on conformity
• What is the explanation of Task Difficulty?


  Lengths of lines became more similar, conformity increased due to task difficulty
• What was the third variation?


  Unanimity
• What was the explanation of Unanimity?


  Dissenter states different answer, correct or incorrect, which decreased conformity
• What is the first strength of Asch's Study?


  Lab experiment using an artificial task
• What is the second strength of Asch's Study?

  Had a good control over extraneous variables
• What is the third strength of Asch's Study?


  Kept the same conditions for everyone
• What are the results of the Strengths?


  High Internal Validity due to procedure being standardised
• What is the first weakness of Asch's Study?


  Used an Artificial Task
• What is the second weakness of Asch's Study?


  Low external validity, leading to a lack of Mundane realism.
• What is the third weakness of Asch's Study?


  Decrease in internal validity, lead to demand characteristics
• What are the results of the Weakness?


  Low external validity, lacks mundane realism
• What is Asch's Study Ethical Good?


  Helps avoid mindless destructive conformity, shows people how to non-conform and be independent
• What is Asch's Study Ethical Issue?


  Deception, exposed to negative psychological effects (stress, anxiety, humiliation)
• What is the Overall?


  Strengths overweighed Weakness as psychological harm was minor