Asch

• What was the aim of Asch's study into conformity?

  To investigate the extent of conformity to a majority in an unambiguous situation.
• What was the research method and sample in Asch's study into conformity?

  The research method was a lab experiment and the sample was 123 male, American participants.
• What was the task in Asch's study into conformity [4]

  1. Each participant saw two large white cards- Line X on the left hand card and the three comparison cards (A, B, C) on the right hand card.
  2. On each trial the participants had to say which comparison line was the same length as line X.
  3. Participants were tested in groups of 6 to 8. Only one participant was genuine, the rest were confederates.
  4. The genuine participant was always seated last or second to last.
• In Asch's study why was the genueine participant always seated last or second to last? [2]

  The placement of the participant is also another variable that could effect the oucome of the study. It's also an extranious variable.
• There were 18 trials in total, the confederates gave the wrong answer in 12/18 of these trials. Why not all of the trials?


  To prevent the participants from guessing the aim of the study and changing their behaviour
• What were the findings of Asch's study into conformity?

  The mean conformity rate across the critical trials was 36.8%. 75% of ppts conformed at least once, therefore 25% of ppts never conformed.
• In Asch's Study what were the critical trials?

  The trials where confederates gave the wrong answer
• What was the conclusion of Asch's study into conformity?


  The findings suggest that ppts conformed due to normative social influence, this is evident as in the post experimental interviews where ppts said that they knew their answers were wrong but went along with the group in order to fit in.
• What are the three variables that affect conformity?

  Group size, unanimity and task difficulty.
• How was the variable of group size investigated in Asch's study into conformity?

  By adding more confederates, thus increasing the size of the majority. 1-15 confederates were used
• How was the variable of unanimity investigated in Asch's study into conformity?

  The majority was unanimous so a confederate was introduced who disagreed with the majority.
• How was the variable of task difficulty investigated in Asch's study into conformity?

  The difficulty of each question was increased thereby also increasing ambiguity.
• How did the variable of group size effect conformity levels on the critical trials?

  Conformity increased with group size but only up to a point. 1 confederate = 3%, 3 confederates = 31.8%. Any more confederates makes little difference.
• How did the variable of unanimity effect conformity levels on the critical trials?

  Participants conformed less often in the presence of a dissenter, even when the dissenter disagreed with the participant. Reduced to less than a quarter of the level when the majority was unanimous.
• How did the variable of task difficulty effect conformity levels on the critical trials?

  Conformity would increase due to participants not knowing the answer.
• What does the variable of group size suggest?

  It suggests that the greater the majority the more likely you are to conform.
• What does the variable of unanimity suggest?

  It suggests that the majority is dependant on unanimity.
• What does the variable of task difficulty suggest?

  It suggests that conformity is due to informational social influence. As a task becomes more ambiguous you look to others for guidance and assume they are right.