Variables affecting conformity

• Identify the 3 variables found to affect conformity.


  Group size, unanimity and task difficulty.
• Outline Asch's group size variation.


  In Asch’s group size variation, Asch varied the number of confederates in the line judgement task from 1-15. 

  He found that conformity rates increased with group size but only up until a majority of 3. A small group is therefore enough to influence conformity.
• Outline Asch's unanimity variation.


  In Asch’s unanimity variations, Asch instructed one of the confederates to 1) give a different incorrect answer to the rest of the confederates or 2) give the correct answer.

  He found that breaking the unanimity of the majority/confederates led to reduced conformity rates (regardless of whether the correct answer was provided).
• Outline Asch's task difficulty variation.


  In Asch’s task difficulty variation, Asch made the line judgement task more difficult by making the line lengths more similar.

  He found that conformity rates increased when the task was more difficult. 
• Evaluate Asch’s research into variables affecting conformity: provided information as to why people conform. 


  Larger groups increasing conformity rates can be explained by NSI. The finding that a more difficult task increases conformity could explained by ISI. The finding that breaking unanimity reduces conformity rates could be explained by both NSI and ISI. This is because a unanimous majority creates more pressure to fit in but also the fact the majority all agree indicates they are more likely to be correct and so creates more pressure to conform to be right.
• Evaluate Asch’s research into variables affecting conformity: high level of control.


  This is because Asch altered one variable at a time (e.g. task difficulty) while keeping everything else the same (e.g. same number of confederates) to see what effect it would have on conformity rates. This Is a strength because it results in greater confidence when establishing cause and effect e.g. any change ln conformity rates must be an effect of the increased task difficulty as this was the only thing that changed.
• Evaluate Asch’s research into variables affecting conformity: nomothetic approach.


  Some of the participants in Asch's conformity research never conformed despite everyone experiencing the same group size/unanimity/task difficulty. There were still individual differences in conformity rates in Asch’s variation studies. This is a limitation because it suggests that these variables have little Influence on some people's behaviour. E.g. group size may not have much influence on people who are less concerned about being liked/fitting in such as older people.