Conformity: Asch’s research

• What was the main focus of Asch's conformity study?

  To assess how much people conform
• How did Asch demonstrate conformity in his study?

  By showing participants lines of different lengths
• What percentage of the time did confederates give the wrong answer?

  36.8%
• What does the term "Asch effect" refer to?

  The tendency to conform to group pressure
• What was the overall conformity rate in Asch's study?

  75% conformed at least once
• Why did participants conform according to Asch's findings?

  To avoid rejection or social disapproval
• How did the presence of a non-conforming confederate affect conformity rates?

  It reduced conformity when the confederate disagreed
• What did Asch's variations reveal about group size and conformity?

  Conformity increased with group size up to three
• What is meant by "unanimity" in the context of Asch's study?

  The extent to which all group members agree
• How did task difficulty influence conformity in Asch's study?

  Conformity increased when the task was harder
• What was the procedure used in Asch's study?

  Participants judged the length of lines
• What was the role of confederates in Asch's study?

  To provide incorrect answers intentionally
• How many trials did each participant undergo in Asch's study?

  12 optical trials
• What did Fiske (2014) criticize about Asch's groups?

  They were not very representative of real groups
• How does gender influence conformity according to the study?

  Women may be more conformist than men
• What cultural differences did Asch's study overlook?

  Gender and cultural differences in conformity
• What did Bond and Smith (1996) find about conformity in collectivist cultures?

  Conformity rates are higher in collectivist cultures
• What ethical issue was raised in Asch's study?

  Participants were deceived about confederates
• Why might conformity be higher among friends than strangers?

  Friends may influence each other more strongly
• What is a limitation of Asch's findings regarding real-life situations?

  Findings may not generalize to everyday situations
• What sampling method did Asch use in his study?

  Volunteer sampling method
• What is one strength of using a volunteer sampling method?

  Participants are usually more willing to engage
• How does the presence of a majority affect individual decision-making?

  It can pressure individuals to conform
• What is the significance of the term "normative social influence" in Asch's study?

  It refers to conforming to avoid rejection
• What did Asch's study reveal about the relationship between task ambiguity and conformity?

  Conformity increases with task ambiguity
• What was the main conclusion of Asch's research?

  People often conform to group opinions
• How did Asch's research contribute to psychology?

  It increased understanding of conformity dynamics
• What are the key variables affecting conformity identified by Asch?

  • Group size
  • Unanimity
  • Task difficulty
• What are the limitations of Asch's study regarding its applicability?

  • Findings may not generalize to real-life situations
  • Study focused only on American men
  • Ethical concerns about deception
• What are the implications of cultural differences in conformity?

  • Higher conformity in collectivist cultures
  • Gender differences in conformity rates
  • Variability in conformity based on social context
• Why does conformity increase among naïve participants?

  They assume the majority is likely correct
• Who conducted the research on conformity in 1951 and 1955?

  Solomon Asch
• What was the main task participants had to perform in Asch's study?

  Identify the matching line length
• How many American male undergraduates participated in Asch's study?

  123 participants
• What was the role of confederates in Asch's experiment?

  They provided predetermined answers
• How many trials did each participant take part in during Asch's study?

  18 trials
• What percentage of the time did naive participants give a wrong answer?

  36.8% of the time
• What term describes the extent to which participants conform in Asch's study?

  The Asch effect
• What was a common reason participants conformed according to interviews?

  To avoid rejection from the group
• What were the variations Asch investigated to understand conformity better?

  1. Group size
  2. Unanimity
  3. Task difficulty