Variables affecting conformity

• Group Size


  In Asch's original experiment, there were between 6 and 8 confederates. In variations, Asch investigated the effect of group size on conformity by altering the number of confederates he used.

  Procedure - Asch recorded conformity rates with 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10 or 15.

  Findings:

  • 1 confederate conformity rate - 3%
  • 2 confederates conformity rate - 13%
  • 3 confederates conformity rate - 31.8%
  • 4 or more confederates - 35%
• Unanimity


  In Asch's original experiment, confederates answered unanimously by all providing the same wrong answer. In a variation, Asch investigated the effect of unanimity on conformity by including 1 supportive confederate.

  Procedure - Asch recorded conformity rates where one confederate gave the correct answer, whilst the majority continue to give the same wrong answer.

  Findings - 1 supportive confederate conformity rate = 5.5%
• Task difficulty


  In Asch's original experiment, participants experienced an unambiguous task, which had an obvious answer. In a variation, Asch investigated the effect of task difficulty on conformity by making the lines more similar in length.

  Procedure - Asch recorded conformity rates with lines that were more similar in length.

  Findings - With a difficult task, conformity rates were as high as 5.7%