Asch's study

• Aim of Asch's study

  • To investigate conformity through responses of participants to group pressure in an unambiguous situation
• Method of Asch's study (1)

  • 123 Male American students tested
  • Group of 6-8 confederates
• Method of Asch's study (2)

  • Two large cards shown
  • 1 with a single standard line and the other with 3 comparison lines
  • Participants asked to select matching line
  • Confederate went last or next to last
• Method of Asch's study (3)

  • 18 trials
  • 12 were critical (confederates selected wrong line)
• Results of Asch's study

  • Out of 12 critical trials, participant gave the wrong answer 1/3 of the time
  • 25% of participants did not give the wrong answer
• Conclusion of Asch's study

  • People are influenced by group pressure
  • High level of independence
• Evaluation of Asch's study (1)

  • May only reflect conformity in 1950s America
  • Perrin and Spencer repeated study in 1980 in UK, found only one conforming response in 396 trials
  • Suggests Asch's effect lacks Temporal validity
• Evaluation of Asch's study (2)

  • Task and situation is artificial
  • Judging the length of a line does not reflect everyday situations
  • The results may not explain more serious real-world conformity situations
• Evaluation of Asch's study (3)

  • Research is more reflective of conformity in individualistic cultures
  • Studies in collectivist countries (China) produce higher conformity rates than individualist countries
  • Suggests that Asch's findings cannot be generalised to collectivist cultures