Explanations of Conformity

    Cards (42)

    • What is informational social influence?
      When an individual is unsure about something, they conform by seeking information from the group about how to behave and assume that it is right.
    • What is ISI driven by?
      The desire to be right.
    • What type of conformity does ISI lead to?
      Internalisation
    • What was the aim of Jenness' research to support ISI?
      To investigate the effects of a group discussion on individuals judgements.
    • What experimental method did Jenness use in his research to support ISI?
      Lab experiment
    • What was the sample in Jenness' study?
      36 American students (18 males; 18 females)
    • What was the procedure of Jenness' study?
      • Participants were individually asked to estimate the number of jellybeans in a jar.
      • Participants then discussed their estimates in groups before agreeing on a group estimate.
      • Participants were individually asked to estimate the number of jellybeans for the second time.
    • What were the findings of Jenness' study?
      Participants' second individual estimates were significantly closer to their group's estimate than their first individual estimates.
    • What conclusions were made from Jenness' study?
      Jenness' study supports ISI as ppts were unsure about the number of jellybeans in the jar. However, after ppts sought information from others in their group, they assumed that this information was correct. Ppts then publicly and privately changed their beliefs to be in line with their group, leading to internalisation.
    • Who conducted research supporting ISI as an explanation of conformity?
      Jenness
    • What task did participants perform in Jenness's study?
      Estimate the number of jellybeans in a jar
    • What was the significant finding regarding participants' estimates?
      Second private estimate was closer to group estimate
    • Why does Jenness's study support ISI as an explanation of conformity?
      Participants sought information from the group due to ambiguity
    • How did participants change their estimates in Jenness's study?
      They changed estimates publicly and privately
    • What does the ambiguity of the task in Jenness's study imply about conformity?
      Uncertainty leads individuals to conform for accuracy
    • What type of estimate did participants provide after the group estimate?
      A last private individual guess
    • How does Jenness's research illustrate the concept of informational social influence (ISI)?
      Participants changed estimates based on group input
    • How can Jenness' research into ISI be criticised for sample bias?
      • The participants were all students.
      • It is difficult to generalise the findings to individuals who are older or younger as they may be more or less likely to conform.
      • E.g. older people - more life experience - may trust their instincts - less likely to conform with the group.
      • Weakens the external validity.
    • How can Jenness' research into ISI be criticised for culture bias?
      • It was conducted in America (a western, individualist culture)
      • It is difficult to generalise the findings to non-western, collectivist cultures e.g. Japan.
      • More focused on the good of the group - more likely to conform and agree with the group.
      • Weakens the external validity.
    • How can Jenness' research into ISI be criticised as it lacks ecological validity?
      • Study took place in an artificial environment (lab)
      • It is difficult to generalise the findings to real life examples of ISI.
      • People may be less likely to conform to a group - there may be consequences for their actions (unlike in an artificial lab setting)
      • Further reduces the external validity.
    • Who conducted research supporting ISI as an explanation of conformity?
      Lucas et al
    • What type of problems did Lucas et al ask students to solve?
      Maths problems that were easy or difficult
    • What was found regarding conformity to incorrect answers in Lucas et al's study?
      Greater conformity occurred with difficult problems
    • When was conformity to incorrect answers most pronounced according to Lucas et al's findings?
      When students rated their ability as poor
    • How does Lucas et al's research support ISI as an explanation of conformity?
      People conform when unsure and seek correct answers
    • Why might someone conform according to ISI when faced with difficult problems?
      They want to be right and look to others
    • What does ISI stand for in the context of conformity?
      • Informational Social Influence
      • It refers to conforming to others for correct information.
    • What is normative social influence?
      When in order to avoid ridicule, an individual will 'go along with' a group's behaviour in order to gain acceptance from them and fit in.
    • What is NSI driven by?
      Our desire to be liked.
    • What type of conformity does NSI lead to?
      Compliance.
    • What was the aim of Asch's study to support NSI?
      To investigate the effects of a majority opinion on individuals' judgement.
    • What experimental method did Asch use?
      Lab experiment.
    • What was the sample in Asch's study?
      123 American male students.
    • What was the procedure of Asch's study?
      • Ppts were individually placed into groups with 7 to 9 confederates.
      • They were asked to say which line (A,B or C) was the same length as the stimulus line (X). Ppts were always last or second last to answer.
      • On 12/18 'criticial trials', the confederates gave identical wrong answers.
      • A control group of 36 ppts were individually tested without confederates.
    • What were the findings of Asch's study?
      • On average, the real ppts gave the wrong answer 37% of the time when a confederate was present.
      • Post-experiment interviews found that the majority of ppts conformed publicly during the experiment, but not privately (thought that the confederates were wrong), as they wanted to avoid ridicule.
    • What conclusions were made from Asch's study?
      Asch's study supports NSI as ppts conformed publicly, but not privately, in order to be accepted by the group.
    • How can Asch's study be considered unethical?
      Deception - ppts were told they were taking part in a test of perception.
      Protection from harm - ppts were placed in stressful and embarrassing situations.
    • How can NSI as an explanation of conformity be praised for having research to support conducted by Asch?
      Ppts were asked to state which line a,b or c was closest in length to stimulus line 'X'. Confederates answered first and gave an incorrect answer. Asch found that ppts conformed and said the same wrong answer as the confederates 37% of the time. Therefore, supporting NSI as an explanation of conformity because the task was unambiguous and the ppts later stated they knew the answer but conformed in order to avoid ridicule from the group, which is what NSI suggests.
    • How can Asch's research into NSI be criticised for gender bias?
      • Only males were tested.
      • It is difficult to generalise the findings to females - may have different conformity rates to males.
      • E.g. females might be more conformist - more concerned about social relationships - more concerned with being liked by their peers. (Neto, 1995)
      • Weakens the external validity.
    • How can Asch's research into NSI be criticised for culture bias?
      • It was conducted in America (a western, individualist culture).
      • It is difficult to generalise the findings to non-western, collectivist cultures e.g. China.
      • More focused on the good of the group - may be more likely to conform and agree with the group in order to be liked by them (This was found by Bond and Smith in their 1996 conformity study)
      • Weakens the external validity.