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asch conformity research
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notes on asch's study on conformity for social influence for psych a level aqa
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Asch’s research – base line procedure 1951aim- investigate the variables that might lead to an increase or decrease in conformity
method:
- 123 American male undergraduates who thought they were taking part in a vision test,
group of 6-8 confederates.
- Consisting of 1 true ppts and 5 confederates, true ppts didn’t know others were
confederates.
- Showed ppts two large cards at a time > one had a standard line and the other had 3
comparison lines (one which was the same length as the standard)
- Participants were asked which of the 3 lines matched.
- During first few trials, confederates all gave the correct answer before starting to make
errors.
- Confederates were instructed to give the wrong answer on 12/18 trials (12 were they
gave wrong were called ‘critical’ trials)
Results:
- Naïve participants gave a wrong answer 36.8% of the time (conformed)
- 25% didn’t conform.
- 75% conformed at least once.
- Term Asch effect has been used to describe these findings people will conform even
when presented with an unambiguous answer.
- Ppts were interviewed after the study and said they conformed to avoid rejection
(normative social influence)
Variables investigated by Asch (1955)
- Varied his study to investigate the variables that might lead to an increase or decrease
in conformity.
Group size:
Aim – to investigate whether the size of the group would be more important than the
agreement of the group.
- varied number of confederates from 1-15
- Found a curvilinear relationship between group size and conformity > conformity
increased with group size up to a certain point.
- With 3 confederates’ conformity to the wrong answer rose to 31.8%
- With 2 confederates it was 13.8%
- Suggesting most people are sensitive to the views of others as one confederate was
enough to sway opinion.
Unanimity:
Aim – to investigate if the presence of a non-conforming person would affect the naïve
participants conformity
- Introduced a confederate who disagreed with other confederates
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