Variables affecting conformity

Question 1

Asch’s aim?

Answer 1

to investigate the extent to which social pressure from a majority group could affect a person to conform

Question 2

Asch’s procedure

Answer 2

• 123 male students tested
• ppts seated and asked to look at three lines of different lengths
• took turns to call out which of the three lines were the same length as the standard line (real ppt always answered second to last)
• 12/18 confederates were to give the wrong answr
• Asch wondered wether the ‘real’ ppt would stick to their beliefs

Question 3

Aschs findings

Answer 3

• 75% conformed at least once
• 25% never conformed
• 5% conformed in all 12 critical trials
• overall, conformity rate was 37% in the critical trials

Question 4

what are the situational variables that affect conformity

Answer 4

• size of group
• unanimity
• task difficulty

Question 5

how does group size affect conformity

Answer 5

• Little conformity with 1/2 people
• Increased conformity to 30% with three people
• Further increase had little to none effect on conformity levels

Question 6

how does unanimity affect conformity

Answer 6

conformity rates decreases when majority influence is not unanimous
33% to 5.5%

Question 7

how does task difficulty affect conformity

Answer 7

greater conformity rates are seen when task difficulty increases, as the right answer becomes less obvious

Question 8

Define confederates:

Answer 8

An individual in an experiment who is not a real participant and has been instructed how to behave by the researcher.

Question 9

Reasons for conformity after interviews with participants:

Answer 9

• Distortion of perception (saw the line the same way as participants)
• Distortion of judgement (doubtful/unsure of own judgement)
• Distortion of Action (correctly answered privately but changed publicly to avoid disaproval)

Question 10

What are group size and unanimity an example of?

Answer 10

Normative Social Influence

Question 11

What are task difficulty an example of?

Answer 11

Informational Social Influence