Asch

    Cards (30)

    • How many male American undergraduates participated in the study?
      123
    • What was the aim of the study conducted by Asch?
      To investigate conformity and majority influence
    • What was the procedure of the Asch conformity experiment?
      • Participants and confederates presented with 4 lines: 3 comparison lines and 1 standard line
      • Asked to state which comparison line matched the standard line
      • Real participant answered last or second to last
      • Confederates gave the same incorrect answer for 12 out of 18 trials
    • How did Asch measure conformity in his experiment?
      By observing how often the participant gave the same incorrect answer as the confederates
    • What percentage of participants conformed in Asch's study?
      37%
    • What percentage of participants never conformed in the study?
      25%
    • What percentage of participants conformed at least once during the trials?
      75%
    • What were the findings of the control trial in Asch's experiment?
      • Only 1% of responses given by participants were incorrect
      • This eliminates eyesight/perception as an extraneous variable
      • Increases the validity of the conclusions drawn
    • Why is the control trial significant in Asch's study?
      It helps eliminate eyesight/perception as an extraneous variable
    • How does group size affect conformity?
      An individual is more likely to conform when in a larger group.
    • What was the effect of having fewer than 3 confederates on conformity?
      There was low conformity with fewer than 3 confederates.
    • What happens to conformity when the number of confederates exceeds 3?
      Conformity rose by 30% when the number of confederates exceeded 3.
    • Why does conformity increase when all group members give the same answer?
      It increases confidence in the correctness of the group and decreases confidence in one's own answer.
    • What is considered the optimal group size for conformity?
      The optimal group size for conformity is four.
    • What does the study suggest about the influence of a majority of at least 3?
      A majority must be at least 3 to exert influence, but an overwhelming majority is not always needed.
    • How does unanimity of the majority affect conformity?
      An individual is more likely to conform when the group is unanimous.
    • What was the effect on conformity when joined by a participant giving the correct answer?
      Conformity fell from 32% to 5.5% when joined by a participant giving the correct answer.
    • What happens to conformity when different answers are given by the group?
      Conformity falls from 32% to 9% when different answers are given.
    • Why does conformity increase with a more unanimous group?
      The more unanimous the group is, the more confidence the participant will have that they are all correct.
    • What type of social influence is established by a unanimous majority?
      Unanimity provides normative social influence by preventing conflicting views.
    • How does task difficulty affect conformity?
      An individual is more likely to conform when the task is difficult.
    • What was the effect of making comparison lines more similar in length?
      Conformity increased when the comparison lines were made more similar in length.
    • Why do individuals look to others for confirmation during difficult tasks?
      When the task is difficult, individuals are uncertain of their answer and look to others for confirmation.
    • What does the study suggest about informational social influence?
      Informational social influence is a major mechanism for conformity in ambiguous situations.
    • What are the strengths of the study on conformity?
      • High internal validity due to control over extraneous variables
      • Lab experiment allows for easy replication
      • Valid and reliable cause and effect relationships established
    • What are the ethical issues associated with the study on conformity?
      • Breach of BPS ethical guideline of deception
      • Lack of informed consent
      • Potential psychological harm to participants
    • What are the weaknesses of the study on conformity?
      • Lacks ecological validity due to artificial task
      • Lacks population validity due to sampling issues (only American male undergraduates)
      • Lacks temporal validity due to social context of the 1950s
    • How does the social context of the 1950s affect the validity of the study's findings?
      The social context may have influenced results due to societal pressures during the anti-Communist period.
    • What does normative social influence refer to in the context of conformity?
      Normative social influence refers to conforming to fit in with the group.
    • How do participants report their reasons for conforming in the study?
      Participants reported conforming to fit in with the group despite privately disagreeing.
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