Asch's research

• What was the main purpose of Asch's experiment?

  To test conformity
• How did Asch conduct his conformity experiment?

  By showing participants two cards: one with a standard line and one with three comparison lines
• How many comparison lines were shown on the second card in Asch's experiment?

  Three comparison lines
• What was the relationship between the standard line and the comparison lines?

  One of the three comparison lines was the same length as the standard line
• Who were the participants in Asch's study?

  123 American male undergraduates
• What did naive participants not know about the other participants in the study?

  They were confederates
• What was the pattern of responses given by the confederates during the trials?

  They initially gave correct answers, then started making errors
• How many trials did participants take part in during Asch's experiment?

  18 trials
• On how many critical trials did the confederates give the wrong answer?

  12 critical trials
• What instruction did the confederates receive regarding their answers?

  They were instructed to give the wrong answer
• What was the aim of Asch's experiment regarding social pressure?

  To understand the extent to which social pressure could lead to conformity in responses
• findings 


  • naive pps gave wrong answer 36.8% of the time
  • 25% of pps did not conform on any trials
  • 75% conformed at least once
  • Asch effect has been used to describe this result
  • when pps were interviewed afterwards most said they conformed to avoid rejection