Asch (1956)

Aim

To investigate the extent to which a majority had influence over a minority

Hypothesis

Asch predicted that a majority group could have an influence on the minority group

Procedure

1. Asch used a lab style experiment to conduct the study

2. 50 male students participated in what they believed was a "vision test". In each condition, a single participant was put in a room with seven confederates

3. In a series of 18 trials, the participant and the confederates were shown a set of lines and were asked to state out loud which line on the right matched the line on the left. In 12 of the trials, the confederates deliberately gave the wrong answer

Results

In 12 of the trails, 32% of the participants conformed throughout the trails. 75% of the participants conformed on at least one trial, and 25% of the participants did not conform at all

Conclusion

A majority group can have a significant influence on a minority group through both normative social influence and informational social influence

Evaluation point (Ethics)

Ethical as participants were not physically or mentally harmed in any way

Not ethical as participants were deceived and did not know the true purpose of the experiment until it was over

Evaluation point (Reliability)

Reliable as it was conducted as a lab experiment; controlled variables makes it easy to replicate

Evaluation point (Application to Real Life)

Applicable in real life as an explanation of why people may be pressured to conform

Not applicable to real life as the experiment lacked mundane realism

Evaluation Point (Generalisability)

Sample is not generalisable as it was an all male sample taken from the same age range and background

The Ally Variation

The participant would sit next to a confederate who would say the right answer during the trials. Participants were less likely to conform in this condition

The Written Answer Variation

The participant was told that they had arrived late and would have to write their answers down instead of speaking them. Since they could not be ridiculed by the group, conformity levels dropped